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12 It is necessary dei for me to continue boasting kauchaomai. Though men it is not ou profitable sympherō, I will go on erchomai · de to eis visions optasia and kai revelations apokalypsis from the Lord kyrios. I know oida a man anthrōpos in en Christ Christos who fourteen dekatessares years etos ago pro whether eite in en the body sōma I do not ou know oida or eite apart from ektos the ho body sōma I do not ou know oida, only ho God theos knows oida such a man toioutos was caught up harpazō · ho to heōs the third tritos heaven ouranos. And kai I know oida that · ho this toioutos man anthrōpos whether eite in en the body sōma or eite apart chōris from the ho body sōma I do not ou know oida, only ho God theos knows oida that hoti he was caught up harpazō into eis · ho paradise paradeisos and kai heard akouō unspeakable arrētos words rhēma which hos are not ou permitted for a man anthrōpos to utter laleō. On behalf of hyper · ho this man toioutos I will boast kauchaomai, but de on my own emautou behalf hyper I will not ou boast kauchaomai, except ei mē in en my ho weakness astheneia. For gar even if ean I should choose thelō to boast kauchaomai, I would not ou be eimi foolish aphrōn, because gar I would be telling legō the truth alētheia. But de I refrain from pheidomai this, so that no one tis will give credit logizomai to eis me egō beyond hyper what hos he sees blepō in me egō or ē he hears akouō from ek me egō, especially kai because of the ho extraordinary hyperbolē character of my ho revelations apokalypsis. Therefore dio in order that hina I should not become conceited hyperairō, there was given didōmi to me egō a thorn skolops in the ho flesh sarx, a messenger angelos of Satan Satanas to hina torment kolaphizō me egō, that hina I should not become conceited hyperairō. Three times tris I pleaded with parakaleō the ho Lord kyrios about hyper this houtos, that hina it would leave aphistēmi me egō. But kai he said legō to me egō, “ My egō grace charis is sufficient arkeō for you sy, · ho for gar my ho power dynamis is fulfilled teleō in en weakness astheneia.” Therefore oun I will most mallon gladly hēdeōs boast kauchaomai in en · ho my egō weaknesses astheneia, in order that hina the ho power dynamis of ho Christ Christos may dwell episkēnoō in epi me egō. 10 For this reason dio I am content eudokeō with en weaknesses astheneia, with en insults hybris, with en hardships anankē, with en persecutions diōgmos and kai difficulties stenochōria for the sake hyper of Christ Christos; for gar whenever hotan I am weak astheneō, then tote I am eimi strong dynatos.

11 I am acting like ginomai a fool aphrōn, but you hymeis drove anankazō me egō to it. I egō ought opheilō to be commended synistēmi by hypo you hymeis, for gar in no way oudeis am I inferior hystereō to the ho super-apostles hyperlian apostolos”— even kai though ei I am eimi nothing oudeis. 12 The ho marks sēmeion of ho an apostle apostolos were done katergazomai among en you hymeis with en all pas persistence hypomonē, along with te signs sēmeion and kai wonders teras and kai powerful dynamis deeds . 13 For gar in what tis way were eimi you less favored than hyper the ho rest loipos of the churches ekklēsia, except ei mē that hoti I egō myself autos was not ou a burden katanarkaō to you hymeis? Forgive charizomai me egō · ho this houtos injustice adikia! 14 Look idou, for the houtos third triton time I am echō ready hetoimōs to come erchomai to pros you hymeis, and kai I will not ou be a burden katanarkaō, because gar I am not ou seeking zēteō what ho you hymeis have , but alla you hymeis. For gar children teknon ought opheilō not ou · ho save up thēsaurizō for their ho parents goneus, but alla the ho parents goneus for the ho children teknon. 15 I egō · de will most gladly hēdeōs spend dapanaō and kai be spent ekdapanaō on behalf hyper of · ho your hymeis souls psychē. If ei I love agapaō you hymeis more perissoterōs, am I to be loved agapaō less hēssōn? 16 But de be that as it may eimi, I egō did not ou burden katabareō you hymeis; yet alla being hyparchō crafty panourgos, I took lambanō you hymeis in lambanō by deceit dolos! 17 I did pleonekteō not take advantage of pleonekteō you hymeis through dia anyone tis I sent apostellō to pros you hymeis, did I? 18 I urged parakaleō Titus Titos to visit you and kai I sent synapostellō the ho brother adelphos with him. Titus Titos did not mēti take advantage pleonekteō of you hymeis, did he? Did we peripateō not ou conduct ourselves peripateō in the ho same autos spirit pneuma? Did we ichnos not ou behave ichnos in the ho same autos way ?

19 Have you been thinking dokeō all along palai that hoti we are defending ourselves apologeomai to you hymeis? We are speaking laleō before katenanti God theos as those in en Christ Christos; · ho and de all pas that we do, dear friends agapētos, is for hyper · ho your hymeis upbuilding oikodomē. 20 For gar I am afraid phobeomai that perhaps mē pōs when I come erchomai I may find heuriskō you hymeis not ou as hoios I would wish thelō, and that I kagō may be found heuriskō by you hymeis not ou as hoios you would wish thelō; perhaps mē pōs there will be strife eris, jealousy zēlos, flaring anger thumos, selfish ambition eritheia, backbiting katalalia, gossiping psithurismos, conceit physiōsis, disorder akatastasia. 21 I am afraid that when erchomai I egō come erchomai, my egō God theos may again palin humble tapeinoō me egō · ho before pros you hymeis, and kai that I will mourn pentheō for many polys who ho have sinned earlier proamartanō and kai have not repented metanoeō of epi the ho impurity akatharsia, · kai sexual porneia immorality , and kai debauchery aselgeia in which hos they indulged prassō.

Paul’s Vision

12 It is necessary to boast, though nothing is gained by it; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a [a]man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, [only] God knows—such a man was caught up to the [b]third heaven.(A) And I know that such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, [only] God knows— was caught up into [c]Paradise and heard inexpressible words which man is not permitted to speak [words too sacred to tell]. On behalf of such a man [and his experiences] I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. If I wish to boast, I will not be foolish, because I will be speaking the truth. But I abstain [from it], so that no one will credit me with more than [is justified by what] he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself!(B) Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 10 So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].

11 Now I have become foolish; you have forced me [by questioning my apostleship]. Actually I should have been commended by you [instead of being treated disdainfully], for I was not inferior to those [d]super-apostles, even if I am nobody. 12 The signs that indicate a genuine apostle were performed among you fully and most patiently—signs and wonders and miracles. 13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except [for the fact] that I did not burden you [with my financial support]? Forgive me [for doing you] this injustice!

14 Now for the third time I am ready to visit you. I will not burden you [financially], because I do not want what is yours [not your money or your possessions], but you. For children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 But I will very gladly spend [my own resources] and be utterly spent for your souls. If I love you greatly, am I to be loved less [by you]? 16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you [with my support]. But [some say that] I was sly and took you by trickery. 17 Did I take advantage of you or make any money off you through any of the messengers I sent you? [Certainly not!] 18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? [No!] Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps? [Of course!]

19 All this time you have been thinking that we are [merely] defending ourselves to you. It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking [as one] in Christ; and everything, dearly beloved, is to strengthen you [spiritually]. 20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you not to be as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder; 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 sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality and decadence which they formerly practiced.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:2 Paul had this experience prior to beginning his missionary journeys.
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:2 The dwelling place of God, called Paradise by Jesus and also by Paul (v 4).
  3. 2 Corinthians 12:4 Paul apparently uses “Paradise” as an equivalent of the third heaven, the dwelling place of God (cf Luke 23:43).
  4. 2 Corinthians 12:11 See note 11:5. If the false teachers were degrading Paul’s apostleship, they may have wrongly ascribed a “super-apostleship” to the Twelve, especially James, Cephas (Peter), and John. See Gal 2:9.