The Bible

21 verses

2 Corinthians Chapter 12

¹It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

²I know a man in the AnointedOne who, fourteen years ago, was caught up into the third heaven (whether in the body or out of the body, I don't know; God knows).

³I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don't know; God knows), ⁴how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

⁵On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

⁶For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me.

⁷By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.

⁸Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

⁹He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So I will rather glory in my weaknesses most gladly, that the power of the AnointedOne may rest on me.

¹⁰So I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for AnointedOne's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

¹¹I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

¹²Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty acts.

¹³For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.

¹⁴Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

¹⁵I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?

¹⁶Even so, I myself didn't burden you. "But, being crafty, I caught you with deception." ¹⁷Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?

¹⁸I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn't we walk in the same spirit? Didn't we walk in the same steps?

¹⁹Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in the AnointedOne. But all things, dear-ones, are for your edifying.

²⁰For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don't desire, that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots, ²¹that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.