2 Corinthians 12
12
Paul’s Visions and Revelations and His Thorn in the Flesh
1 It is necessary to boast, though not advantageous; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know; God knows. Such an individual was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such an individual—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 that he was caught up to Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not permitted for a man to speak. 5 On behalf of such an individual I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. 6 For if I wish to boast, I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth. But I desist, lest anyone credit me beyond what he sees in me or hears* from me. 7 And lest I should be exalted because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to strike me, so that I would not exalt myself.* 8 Concerning this, I implored the Lord three times, that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My * power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10 Therefore, I am pleased in weaknesses, in reproaches, in hardships, in persecutions and difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthian Believers
11 I have become foolish! You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you. For in no way am I inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 12 Indeed, the signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, both in signs and wonders and in miracles. 13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to* the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not to save up for their parents, but the parents for their children. 15 But I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But be it so. I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by deceit. 17 I did not exploit you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? 18 I urged Titus to go,* and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same Spirit? Did we not walk* in the same steps?
19 All along, you have been thinking that we have been defending ourselves to you. We are speaking in Christ* before God, and all things, beloved, are for your upbuilding. 20 For I fear lest somehow, when I come, I may not find you such as I want, and I may be found by you such as you do not want—lest somehow there will be* quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, contentions, defamations, slanders, conceits, disorders. 21 Lest, when I come again, my God may humble me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned previously and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality and sensuality which they have practised.
Notes
6 Some ancient manuscripts insert anything
7 Some ancient manuscripts omit the expression so that I would not exalt myself
9 Some ancient manuscripts omit the possessive adjective My
13 Or as less favored than
18 The infinitive phrase to go is supplied contextually for clarification
18 The verb walk is supplied contextually for clarification
19 One ancient Greek manuscript omits the prepositional phrase in Christ
20 The phrase there will be is supplied contextually for clarification
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
