2 Corinthians 12
1 I suppose I have to boast, even though it doesn't really help. Let me go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
If it is necessary (though certainly not expedient) to glory, then I will next tell of visions and revelations from the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was taken up to the third heaven (whether physically in the body, or out of it, I don't know, but God knows).
I know a man in Christ, who, more than fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows), was enraptured to the third heaven.
3 I know that this man (whether taken up physically in the body, or apart from it, I don't know, but God knows),
And I know a certain man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows),
4 how he was taken up into Paradise, and heard things too wonderful to be spoken, in words so sacred that no human being is allowed to say.
who was enraptured into Paradise. And he heard words of mystery, which it is not permitted for man to speak.
5 Something like that I'll boast about, but I won't boast about myself, except for my weaknesses.
On behalf of someone like this, I will glory. But on behalf of myself, I will not glory about anything, except my infirmities.
6 I wouldn't be foolish if I wanted to boast, because I'd be telling the truth. But I won't boast, so that nobody will think more of me than what they see me doing or hear me saying.
For even though I am willing to glory, I will not be foolish. But I will speak the truth. Yet I will do so sparingly, lest anyone may consider me to be anything more than what he sees in me, or anything more than what he hears from me.
7 Also, because these revelations were so amazingly great, and so that I wouldn't become proud, I was given a “thorn in my flesh”—a messenger from Satan to hurt me so that I wouldn't become proud.
And lest the greatness of the revelations should extol me, there was given to me a prodding in my flesh: an angel of Satan, who struck me repeatedly.
8 I pleaded with the Lord three times to get rid of this problem.
Because of this, three times I petitioned the Lord that it might be taken away from me.
9 But he told me, “My grace is all you will need, for my power is effective in weakness.” That's why I happily boast about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.
And he said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness.” And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me.
10 So I appreciate weaknesses, insults, troubles, persecutions, and difficulties that I suffer for Christ's sake. For when I'm weak, then I'm strong!
Because of this, I am pleased in my infirmity: in reproaches, in difficulties, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful.
11 I'm talking like a fool, but you made me do it! You should really have been speaking well of me, for in no way am I inferior to the super-apostles, even though I don't count for anything.
I have become foolish; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you. For I have been nothing less than those who claim to be above the measure of Apostles, even though I am nothing.
12 Yet the marks of an apostle were patiently demonstrated among you—signs, wonders, and powerful miracles.
And the seal of my Apostleship has been set over you, with all patience, with signs and wonders and miracles.
13 In what way were you inferior to the other churches except I wasn't any burden to you? Please forgive me for doing you wrong!
For what is there that you have had which is less than the other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this injury.
14 Now I'm preparing to visit you for the third time, and I won't be a burden to you. I don't want what you have, I want you yourselves! After all, children shouldn't save up for their parents, but parents should for their children.
Behold, this is the third time I have prepared to come to you, and yet I will not be a burden to you. For I am seeking not the things that are yours, but you yourselves. And neither should the children store up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 I will happily spend myself, and be spent, for you. If I love you so much more, will you love me even less?
And so, very willingly, I will spend and exhaust myself for the sake of your souls, loving you more, while being loved less.
16 Well, even if that's so, I wasn't a burden to you. Maybe I was being devious, and tricked you with my cunning ways!
And so be it. I have not burdened you, but instead, being astute, I obtained you by guile.
17 But did I take advantage of you by anyone I've sent to you?
And yet, did I defraud you by means of any of those whom I sent to you?
18 I urged Titus to go and see you, and I sent another brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? No, we both have the same spirit and use the same methods.
I asked for Titus, and I sent a brother with him. Did Titus defraud you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?
19 Maybe you're thinking that all along we've been just trying to defend ourselves. No, we speak for Christ before God. Everything we do, friends, is for your benefit.
Have you ever thought that we should explain ourselves to you? We speak in the sight of God, in Christ. But all things, most beloved, are for your edification.
20 I do worry when I visit that somehow I won't find you as I would want to, and that you won't find me as you would want to! I'm afraid that there will be arguments, jealousy, anger, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
Yet I fear, lest perhaps, when I have arrived, I might not find you such as I would want, and I might be found by you, such as you would not want. For perhaps there may be among you: contention, envy, animosity, dissension, detraction, whispering, self-exaltation, and rebellion.
21 I'm afraid that when I visit, my God will humble me in your presence, and that I will be weeping over many of those who have sinned previously, and who still have not repented of impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent acts that they committed.
If so, then, when I have arrived, God may again humble me among you. And so, I mourn for the many who sinned beforehand, and did not repent, over the lust and fornication and homosexuality, which they have committed.
