Logos Bible Study

2 Corinthians 12:7–10

New American Standard Bible (1995)Other versions

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A Thorn in the Flesh

7Because of the surpassing greatness of the arevelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a bthorn in the flesh, a cmessenger of Satan to 1torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!

8Concerning this I implored the Lord athree times that it might leave me.

9And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for apower is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather bboast 1about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

10Therefore aI am well content with weaknesses, with 1insults, with bdistresses, with cpersecutions, with difficulties, dfor Christ’s sake; for ewhen I am weak, then I am strong.

Read in Logos
2 Corinthians 12:9: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Footnotes

  1. 1Lit beat
  2. 1Lit in
  3. 1Or mistreatment

Cross references

  1. a2 Cor 12:1
  2. bNum 33:55; Ezek 28:24; Hos 2:6
  3. cJob 2:6; Matt 4:10; 1 Cor 5:5
  4. aMatt 26:44
  5. a1 Cor 2:5; Eph 3:16; Phil 4:13
  6. b1 Cor 2:3; 2 Cor 12:5
  7. aRom 5:3; 8:35
  8. b2 Cor 6:4
  9. c2 Thess 1:4; 2 Tim 3:11
  10. d2 Cor 5:15, 20
  11. e2 Cor 13:4

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

NLTNew Living Translation

even 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.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each 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. That’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.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

even because of the extraordinary degree of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, in order that it would torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would depart from me. And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because the power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore rather I will boast most gladly in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may reside in me. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

KJV 1900King James Version

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.