2 Corinthians 12-13

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Sufficient Grace

12 Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions^(A) and revelations^(B) of the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ who was caught up^(C) into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know, God knows. ³ I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know, God knows— ⁴ was caught up into paradise.^(D) He heard inexpressible words, which a man is not allowed to speak. ⁵ I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses. ⁶ For if I want to boast, I will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth.^(E) But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, ⁷ especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh^(F) was given to me, a messenger^[a] of Satan^(G) to torment me so I would not exalt myself. ⁸ Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. ⁹ But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power^[b](H) is perfected in weakness.”^(I) Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. ¹⁰ So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ.^(J) For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(K)

Signs of an Apostle

¹¹ I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I should have been endorsed by you, since I am not in any way inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.^{(L) 12} The signs^(M) of an apostle^(N) were performed with great endurance among you—not only signs but also wonders^(O) and miracles.^{(P) 13} So in what way were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

¹⁴ Now I am ready to come to you this third time.^(Q) I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. ¹⁵ I will most gladly spend and be spent for you.^[c](R) If I love you more, am I to be loved less? ¹⁶ Now granted, I have not burdened^(S) you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit!^{(T) 17} Did I take advantage of you by anyone I sent you? ¹⁸ I urged Titus^(U) to come, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit^(V) and in the same footsteps?

¹⁹ You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you.^[d] No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.^{(W) 20} For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and I may not be found by you to be what you want;^[e] there may be quarreling,^(X) jealousy,^(Y) outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions,^(Z) slander,^(AA) gossip, arrogance, and disorder.^{(AB) 21} I fear that when I come my God will again^[f] humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented^(AC) of the moral impurity, sexual immorality,^(AD) and promiscuity^(AE) they practiced.

Final Warnings and Exhortations

13 This is the third time I am coming to you.^(AF) Every fact must be established by the testimony^[g] of two or three witnesses.^{(AG)[h] 2} I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning^(AH) while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient, ³ since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me.^(AI) He is not weak toward you, but powerful among you. ⁴ In fact, He was crucified^(AJ) in weakness, but He lives^(AK) by God’s power. For we also are weak in Him,^(AL) yet toward you we will live^(AM) with Him by God’s power.

⁵ Test^(AN) yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.^{[i] 6} And I hope you will recognize that we do not fail the test. ⁷ Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right,^(AO) even though we may appear to fail. ⁸ For we are not able to do anything against the truth,^(AP) but only for the truth. ⁹ In fact, we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong.^(AQ) We also pray that you become fully mature.^{[j] 10} This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up^(AR) and not for tearing down.^(AS)

¹¹ Finally, brothers, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind,^(AT) be at peace,^(AU) and the God of love^(AV) and peace will be with you. ¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss.^(AW) All the saints greet you.

¹³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love^(AX) of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.^[k](AY)