Reluctant Boasting

¹⁶ I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. ¹⁷ What I speak, ^(A)I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. ¹⁸ Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. ¹⁹ For you put up with fools gladly, ^(B)since you yourselves are wise! ²⁰ For you put up with it ^(C)if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. ²¹ To our shame ^(D)I say that we were too weak for that! But ^(E)in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.

Suffering for Christ

²² Are they ^(F)Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. ²³ Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: ^(G)in labors more abundant, ^(H)in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, ^(I)in deaths often. ²⁴ From the Jews five times I received ^(J)forty ^(K)stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was ^(L)beaten with rods; ^(M)once I was stoned; three times I ^(N)was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, ^(O)in perils of my own countrymen, ^(P)in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, ^(Q)in sleeplessness often, ^(R)in hunger and thirst, in ^(S)fastings often, in cold and nakedness— ²⁸ besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: ^(T)my deep concern for all the churches. ^29 (U)Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

³⁰ If I must boast, ^(V)I will boast in the things which concern my ^[a]infirmity. ^31 (W)The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(X)who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. ^32 (Y)In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; ³³ but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

The Vision of Paradise

12 It is ^[b]doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to ^(Z)visions and ^(AA)revelations of the Lord: ² I know a man ^(AB)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one ^(AC)was caught up to the third heaven. ³ And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— ⁴ how he was caught up into ^(AD)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. ⁵ Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not ^(AE)boast, except in my infirmities. ⁶ For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

The Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a ^(AF)thorn in the flesh was given to me, ^(AG)a messenger of Satan to ^[c]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ^8 (AH)Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly ^(AI)I will rather boast in my infirmities, ^(AJ)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(AK)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. ^(AL)For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Preeminence of Christ

^9 (A)For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask ^(B)that you may be filled with ^(C)the knowledge of His will ^(D)in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ^10 (E)that you may walk worthy of the Lord, ^(F)fully pleasing Him, ^(G)being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the ^(H)knowledge of God; ^11 (I)strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, ^(J)for all patience and longsuffering ^(K)with joy; ^12 (L)giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of ^(M)the inheritance of the saints in the light.

^11 (A)Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of ^(B)evil against you falsely for My sake. ^12 (C)Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for ^(D)so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Loving God Under Trials

^12 (A)Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive ^(B)the crown of life ^(C)which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

³ And not only that, but ^(A)we also glory in tribulations, ^(B)knowing that tribulation produces ^[a]perseverance; ^4 (C)and perseverance, ^[b]character; and character, hope.

² looking unto Jesus, the ^[a]author and ^[b]finisher of our faith, ^(A)who for the joy that was set before Him ^(B)endured the cross, despising the shame, and ^(C)has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

¹³ but rejoice ^(A)to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that ^(B)when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. ¹⁴ If you are ^[a]reproached for the name of Christ, ^(C)blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ^[b]On their part He is blasphemed, ^(D)but on your part He is glorified.

¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many ^(A)rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

⁶ And ^(A)you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, ^(B)with joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.