A Vision of Paradise

12 ^(A)It is necessary to boast, though it is not profitable, but I will go on to visions and ^(B)revelations ^[a]of the Lord. ² I know a man ^(C)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, ^(D)God knows—such a man was ^(E)caught up to the ^(F)third heaven. ³ And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ^(G)God knows— ⁴ was ^(H)caught up into ^(I)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. ^5 (J)On behalf of such a man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in ^(K)weaknesses. ⁶ For if I do wish to boast I will not be ^(L)foolish, ^(M)for 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 ^(N)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a ^(O)thorn in the flesh, a ^(P)messenger of Satan to ^[b]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord ^(Q)three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(R)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ^(S)boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(T)I am well content with weaknesses, with ^[c]insults, with ^(U)distresses, with ^(V)persecutions and ^(W)hardships, ^(X)for the sake of Christ, for ^(Y)when I am weak, then I am strong.

Concern for the Corinthian Church

¹¹ I have become ^(Z)foolish; you yourselves compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you, for ^(AA)in no respect was I inferior to the ^[d]most-eminent apostles, even if ^(AB)I am nothing. ¹² The ^[e](AC)signs ^[f]of a true apostle were worked out among you with all perseverance, by ^[g]signs and wonders and ^[h]miracles. ¹³ For in what respect were you treated as less than the rest of the churches, except that ^(AD)I myself did not become a burden to you? ^[i]Forgive me ^(AE)this wrong!

¹⁴ Here ^(AF)for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I ^(AG)will not be a burden to you; for I ^(AH)do not seek what is yours, but ^(AI)you. For ^(AJ)children ought not to save up for their parents, but ^(AK)parents for their children. ¹⁵ So I will ^(AL)most gladly spend and be fully spent for your souls. If ^(AM)I love you more, am I to be loved less? ¹⁶ But be that as it may, I ^(AN)did not burden you myself. Nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I ^(AO)took you in by deceit. ^17 (AP)Have I taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you? ¹⁸ I ^(AQ)encouraged ^(AR)Titus to go, and I sent ^(AS)the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did we not walk ^[j]in the same ^(AT)spirit—^(AU)in the very same steps?

¹⁹ All this time ^[k]you think we are defending ourselves to you. We speak in Christ ^(AV)in the sight of God. ^(AW)And all these things, ^(AX)beloved, are for your building up. ²⁰ For I am afraid that perhaps ^(AY)when 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 ^(AZ)strife, jealousy, ^(BA)outbursts of anger, ^(BB)selfish ambition, ^(BC)slanders, ^(BD)gossip, ^(BE)arrogance, ^(BF)disturbances. 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 ^(BG)sinned in the past and not repented of the ^(BH)impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality which they have practiced.