2 Corinthians 12

The Vision of Paradise

It is ¹doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to ^avisions and ^brevelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man ^ain Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one ^bwas caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into ^aParadise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not ^aboast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

The Thorn in the Flesh

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a ^athorn in the flesh was given to me, ^ba messenger of Satan to ¹buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 ^aConcerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly ^aI will rather boast in my infirmities, ^bthat the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore ^aI take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. ^bFor when I am weak, then I am strong.

Signs of an Apostle

11 I have become ^aa fool ¹in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for ^bin nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though ^cI am nothing. 12 ^aTruly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and ^bwonders and mighty ^cdeeds. 13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Love for the Church

14 ^aNow for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for ^bI do not seek yours, but you. ^cFor the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent ^afor your souls; though ^bthe more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.
16 But be that as it may, ^aI did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus, and sent our ^abrother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?
19 ^aAgain, ¹do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? ^bWe speak before God in Christ. ^cBut we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that ^aI shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God ^awill humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many ^bwho have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, ^cfornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

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