2 Corinthians 12:1-10

And so I come now to the visions and revelations vouchsafed to me, which have been numerous and impressive. I speak as a fool. There exists a man in Christ, — and whether this man were in the body or not, I will not take upon me to speculate, but leave such matters in the hands of God — but as to this man who lives in Christ, I will say that on a certain date now fourteen years ago he was caught up to the third heaven. This is not a seemly form of boasting, my brethren, but it appears that one must do it to retain one’s character as a messenger of the Spirit. On another occasion this same man whose being is in the Christ — and again whether in the flesh or no I will not speculate but leave the matter to the All-knowing — such a man was caught up into Paradise, and heard words spoken which cannot be uttered by human lips and which it is sacrilegious to disclose. Of that man, as he is in Christ, I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, except to show the weakness of this same self. For the greatness of these revelations has been indeed beyond measure wonderful, and were I to boast of them, I should speak no longer as a fool, but as wise — but as true, for the revelation was truth. But I forbear, for experience teaches me that on account of these revelations men look curiously upon me, as something more than I seem, as other than my words and appearance show me to be, and therefore I am slow to speak of them, for the vastness of this revelation has little to do with this outward man, myself, whom the world knows, but with the spiritual man who dwells in Christ. Hence to haunt this carnal man, and for-ever to check his boasting and self-sufficiency came an angel of Satan, one of his servants and messengers, to dog my steps, and harass me continually. Therefore I once three times cried out to God that this persecuting thorn might leave me, and He said: “Sufficient is my grace for thee, for power is most perfectly manifested in weakness.” Out of that weakness then looms the great power of the Christ. The almightiness of it overshadows me, clothes me, and makes me able to boast that very weakness of the flesh as nothing, nay, as the instrument of God’s glory. Then come — weakness, insult, persecution, difficulty and distress! For the Christ’s sake they are even welcome to me. For when I am weak, then I am strong.