2 Corinthians 12:2-21
Legacy Standard Bible
2 I know a man (A)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, (B)God knows—such a man was (C)caught up to the (D)third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, (E)God knows— 4 was (F)caught up into (G)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 (H)On behalf of such a man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in (I)weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be (J)foolish, (K)for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will consider me beyond what he sees in me or hears from me.
A Thorn in the Flesh
7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the (L)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a (M)thorn in the flesh, a (N)messenger of Satan to [a]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord (O)three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for (P)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather (Q)boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore (R)I am well content with weaknesses, with [b]insults, with (S)distresses, with (T)persecutions and (U)hardships, (V)for the sake of Christ, for (W)when I am weak, then I am strong.
Concern for the Corinthian Church
11 I have become (X)foolish; you yourselves compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you, for (Y)in no respect was I inferior to the [c]most-eminent apostles, even if (Z)I am nothing. 12 The [d](AA)signs [e]of a true apostle were worked out among you with all perseverance, by [f]signs and wonders and [g]miracles. 13 For in what respect were you treated as less than the rest of the churches, except that (AB)I myself did not become a burden to you? [h]Forgive me (AC)this wrong!
14 Here (AD)for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I (AE)will not be a burden to you; for I (AF)do not seek what is yours, but (AG)you. For (AH)children ought not to save up for their parents, but (AI)parents for their children. 15 So I will (AJ)most gladly spend and be fully spent for your souls. If (AK)I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But be that as it may, I (AL)did not burden you myself. Nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I (AM)took you in by deceit. 17 (AN)Have I taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you? 18 I (AO)encouraged (AP)Titus to go, and I sent (AQ)the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did we not walk [i]in the same (AR)spirit—(AS)in the very same steps?
19 All this time [j]you think we are defending ourselves to you. We speak in Christ (AT)in the sight of God. (AU)And all these things, (AV)beloved, are for your building up. 20 For I am afraid that perhaps (AW)when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be (AX)strife, jealousy, (AY)outbursts of anger, (AZ)selfish ambition, (BA)slanders, (BB)gossip, (BC)arrogance, (BD)disturbances. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have (BE)sinned in the past and not repented of the (BF)impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality which they have practiced.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 Lit beat
- 2 Corinthians 12:10 Or mistreatment
- 2 Corinthians 12:11 Or super-apostles
- 2 Corinthians 12:12 Or attesting miracles
- 2 Corinthians 12:12 Lit of the apostle
- 2 Corinthians 12:12 Or attesting miracles
- 2 Corinthians 12:12 Or works of power
- 2 Corinthians 12:13 Or Graciously forgive
- 2 Corinthians 12:18 Or by the same Spirit
- 2 Corinthians 12:19 Or have you been thinking...building up?
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