2 Corinthians 12:1-10
New Testament for Everyone
The vision and the thorn
12 I just have to boast—not that there’s anything to be gained by it; but I’ll go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 Someone I know in the Messiah, fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know, though God knows), was snatched up to the third heaven. 3 I know that this particular “Someone” (whether in the body or apart from the body I don’t know, God knows)— 4 this person was snatched up to paradise, and heard . . . words you can’t pronounce, which humans aren’t allowed to repeat. 5 I will boast of Someone like that, but I won’t boast of myself, except of my weaknesses. 6 If I did want to boast, you see, I wouldn’t be mad; I’d be speaking the truth. But I’m holding back, so that nobody will think anything of me except what they can see in me or hear from me, 7 even considering how remarkable the revelations were.
As a result, so that I wouldn’t become too exalted, a thorn was given to me in my flesh, a messenger from the satan, to keep stabbing away at me. 8 I prayed to the Lord three times about this, asking that it would be taken away from me, 9 and this is what he said to me: “My grace is enough for you; my power comes to perfection in weakness.” So I will be all the more pleased to boast of my weaknesses, so that the Messiah’s power may rest upon me. 10 So I’m delighted when I’m weak, insulted, in difficulties, persecuted and facing disasters, for the Messiah’s sake. When I’m weak, you see, then I am strong.
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