The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 12 -

I must boast, but nothing is gained by it. But I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago who-whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know, God knows-was caught up into the third heaven.

And I know that this man-whether in the body, or out of the body, I do not know, God knows-

was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred for anyone to say.

Paul’s Thorn and God’s Grace

On behalf of such a person I will boast. But on behalf of myself I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.

If I wanted to boast, I would not be foolish, for I would be speaking the truth. But I will keep from boasting, so that no one will think more of me than what is seen in me or heard from me.

I will also keep from boasting because of the extraordinary kind of those revelations. Therefore, so I would not be puffed up with pride, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger from Satan to harass me, so I would not become too proud.

Three times I begged the Lord about this, for him to take it away from me.

And he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I would much rather boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ might reside on me.

Therefore, I am content for Christ’s sake in weaknesses, in insults, in troubles, in persecutions and distressing situations. For whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

I have become a fool! You forced me to this, for I should have been praised by you. For I was not at all inferior to the so-called super-apostles, even though I am nothing.

The true signs of an apostle were performed among you with complete patience, signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

For how were you less important than the rest of the churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me for this wrong!

Look! I am ready to come to you a third time. I will not be a burden to you, for I do not want what is yours. I want you. For children should not save up for the parents. Instead, the parents should save up for the children.

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

But as it is, I did not burden you. But, since I am so crafty, I am the one who caught you by deceit.

Did I take advantage of you by anyone I sent to you?

I urged Titus to go to you, and I sent the other brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same way? Did we not walk in the same steps?

Do you think all of this time we have been defending ourselves to you? In the sight of God, we have in Christ been saying everything for your strengthening.

For I fear that when I come I may not find you as I wish. I fear that you might not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be arguments, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, gossip, pride, and disorder.

I fear that when I come back, my God might humble me before you. I fear that I might be grieved by many of those who have sinned before now, and who did not repent of the impurity and sexual immorality and lustful indulgence that they practiced.

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

I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows.

I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),

how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Paul’s Thorn and God’s Grace

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

For 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 that which he sees in me or hears from me.

By 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.

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

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

I 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.

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

For 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!

Behold, 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.

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

Even so, I myself didn’t burden you. But you might say that being crafty, I caught you with deception.

Did I take advantage of you by anyone of those whom I have sent to you?

I 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?

Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

For I am afraid that perhaps 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 perhaps there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,

that 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.