CHAPTER 12

A Vision of Paradise

1 aIt is necessary to boast, though it is not profitable, but I will go on to visions and brevelations 1of the Lord.

2 I know a man ain Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, bGod knows—such a man was ccaught up to the dthird heaven.

3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, aGod knows—

4 was acaught up into bParadise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

5 aOn behalf of such a man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in bweaknesses.

6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be afoolish, bfor I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will consider me beyond what he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

7 Because 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!

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

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

10 Therefore aI am well content with weaknesses, with 1insults, with bdistresses, with cpersecutions and dhardships, efor the sake of Christ, for fwhen I am weak, then I am strong.

Concern for the Corinthian Church

11 I have become afoolish; you yourselves compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you, for bin no respect was I inferior to the 1most-eminent apostles, even if cI am nothing.

12 The 1asigns 2of a true apostle were worked out among you with all perseverance, by 3signs and wonders and 4miracles.

13 For in what respect were you treated as less than the rest of the churches, except that aI myself did not become a burden to you? 1Forgive me bthis wrong!

14 Here afor this third time I am ready to come to you, and I bwill not be a burden to you; for I cdo not seek what is yours, but dyou. For echildren ought not to save up for their parents, but fparents for their children.

15 So I will amost gladly spend and be fully spent for your souls. If bI love you more, am I to be loved less?

16 But be that as it may, I adid not burden you myself. Nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I btook you in by deceit.

17 aHave I taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you?

18 I aencouraged bTitus to go, and I sent cthe brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did we not walk 1in the same dspirit—ein the very same steps?

19 All this time 1you think we are defending ourselves to you. We speak in Christ ain the sight of God. bAnd all these things, cbeloved, are for your building up.

20 For I am afraid that perhaps awhen I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be bstrife, jealousy, coutbursts of anger, dselfish ambition, eslanders, fgossip, garrogance, hdisturbances.

21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have asinned in the past and not repented of the bimpurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality which they have practiced.