2 Corinthians 12

1Boasting is necessary, though it does no good; but I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or outside the body I do not know; God knows—was snatched up as far as the third heaven.

3And I know that such a man—whether in the body or without the body, I do not know; God knows—

4was snatched up into paradise and heard words that cannot be spoken, which a human being is not allowed to utter.

5About such a person I will boast, but about myself I will boast of nothing except my weaknesses.

6For if I did want to boast, I would not be foolish, since I would be telling the truth. But I hold back, so that no one will rate me higher than what they see in me or hear from me,

7or because of how extraordinary the revelations were. For this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to pummel me, to keep me from exalting myself.

8I begged the Lord three times about this, asking that it would go away from me.

9But he has said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for power is made complete in weakness.” So I will be all the more glad to boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may settle on me.

10Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in hard times, in persecutions and distress, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

11I have become foolish; you drove me to it. I was the one who should have been commended by you, since I did not fall short of the “super-apostles” in any way, even though I am nothing.

12The signs that mark an apostle were worked among you with complete perseverance, through signs, wonders, and powerful deeds.

13For in what respect were you treated as less than the other churches, except that I myself did not weigh you down? Pardon me for this wrong!

14Look, this is the third time I am prepared to come to you, and I will not weigh you down, for I am not after what you have but after you. For it is not the children who ought to store up for their parents, but the parents for their children.

15I for my part will very gladly spend, and be completely spent, for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved less?

16Let that stand: I did not burden you. But, sly as I was, I trapped you with a trick!

17Is there anyone among those I have sent to you through whom I took advantage of you?

18I encouraged Titus to go, and I sent the brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not walk by the same spirit? Did we not follow the same tracks?

19Have you been supposing all this time that we are making a defense before you? We speak in God’s presence, in Christ, and all of it, dear friends, is to build you up.

20For I fear that when I come I might find you not the way I would wish, and that you might find me the way you would not wish—that there might somehow be strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, slander, whispering, conceit, and turmoil.

21And I fear that on my return my God may bring me low in front of you, and that I may have to grieve over many who had sinned before and did not repent of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and sensuality they engaged in.