2Corinthians 12

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn in the Flesh

12This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord.G4851G3756G4851G3427G1211G2744G1063G2064G1519G3701G2532G602G29622I

was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows.G1492G444G1722G5547G4253G1180G2094G4253G1535G1722G4983G3756G1492G1535G1622G4983G3756G1492G2316G1492G5108G726G2193G5154G37723Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do knowG2532G1492G5108G444G1535G1722G4983G1535G1622G4983G3756G1492G2316G14924that I was caught up

to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.G3754G726G1519G3857G2532G191G731G4487G3739G1832G3756G1832G444G29805That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses.G5228G5108G2744G1161G5228G1683G2744G3756G2744G1508G1722G3450G7696If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message,G1063G1437G2309G2744G2071G3756G2071G878G1063G2046G225G1161G5339G3361G5100G3049G1519G1691G5228G3739G991G3165G2228G191G5100G1537G17007even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.G2532G3363G5229G5236G602G1325G3427G4647G4561G32G4566G2443G2852G3165G3363G52298Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.G5228G5127G3870G2962G5151G2443G868G575G17009Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.G2532G2046G3427G3450G5485G714G4671G1063G3450G1411G5048G1722G769G2236G3767G2744G3123G2744G1722G3450G769G2443G1411G5547G1981G1909G169110That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.G1352G2106G1722G769G1722G5196G1722G318G1722G1375G1722G4730G5228G5547G5228G1063G3752G770G5119G1510G1415

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

11You have made me act like a fool—boasting like this

. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all.G1096G878G2744G5210G315G3165G1063G1473G3784G4921G5259G5216G1063G3762G5302G3029G652G5228G1499G1510G376212When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.G3303G4592G652G2716G1722G5213G1722G3956G5281G1722G4592G2532G5059G2532G141113The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!G1063G5101G2076G3739G2274G5228G3062G1577G1508G3754G1473G846G2655G3756G2655G5216G5483G3427G5026G9314Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children.G2400G5154G2192G2093G2064G4314G5209G2532G2655G3756G2655G5216G1063G2212G3756G5216G235G5209G1063G5043G3784G3756G2343G1118G235G1118G504315I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.G1161G1473G2236G1159G2532G1550G5228G5590G5216G1499G4056G25G5209G2276G2516Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery.G1161G2077G1473G2599G3756G2599G5209G235G5225G3835G2983G5209G138817But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you?G4122G3361G5209G1223G5100G846G3739G649G4314G520918When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way.G3870G5103G2532G4882G80G4122G3387G5103G4122G5209G4043G3756G846G4151G3756G846G248719Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.G3825G1380G3754G626G5213G2980G2714G2316G1722G5547G1161G3956G27G5228G5216G361920For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.G1063G5399G3381G4458G2064G2147G3756G2147G5209G3634G2309G2504G2147G5213G3634G2309G3756G3381G4458G2054G2205G2372G2052G2636G5587G5450G18121Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.G3361G2064G3825G3450G2316G5013G3165G4314G5209G2532G3996G4183G3588G4258G2532G3340G3361G3340G1909G167G2532G4202G2532G766G3739G4238