2 Corinthians 12
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 12
Caught Up into Heaven.[a] 1 Although nothing is to be gained by doing so, I must continue to boast. So I will move on to the visions and revelations given me from the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows) 4 was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no man may repeat.
5 About this man I am willing to boast, but about myself I will not boast, except as it concerns my weaknesses. 6 Actually, if I were to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. However, I refrain from doing so in order that no one may regard me more highly than would be evident from what he has seen in me and heard from me.
A Boast of One’s Weakness.[b] 7 Therefore, to keep me from becoming unduly elated by the wondrous nature of these revelations, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to beat me and prevent me from becoming unduly elated. 8 Three times I begged the Lord to have it leave me, 9 but he answered me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”
Hence, I will boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell within me. 10 For this reason, I rejoice when I endure weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and distress for the sake of Christ. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.
11 Characteristic Traits of an Apostle. I have been very foolish, but it was you who drove me to it. I should have been commended by you, for in no way did I prove to be inferior to those super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 The traits of a true apostle were evident in what I did in your presence: perseverance, signs, wonders, and mighty deeds. 13 How then have you been less privileged than the other Churches, except that I myself did not place a burden on you? Forgive me for being so unfair!
14 Now I am getting ready to come to you for a third time, and I do not intend to be a burden to you. What I want is not your money, but you yourselves. Children are not expected to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will be happy to spend and be spent for you. Are you going to love me less because I love you so much more?
16 In any case, let it be assumed that I myself did not prove to be a burden to you. However, you may say that I was crafty and took you in by a trick. 17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to come to you, and I sent a brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did not he and I walk in the same Spirit, in the same footsteps?
19 There Will Be No More Forgiveness. Have you been supposing all this time that we have been defending ourselves before you? Not at all! We have been speaking in Christ and in the presence of God, my dear ones, doing all things to build you up. 20 I fear that when I come I may find you different from what I wish you to be, and that you may find me different from what you wish me to be.
I am afraid that this will lead to quarreling, jealousy, anger, factions, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come back my God may humiliate me in your presence and that I may have to mourn over many who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and licentiousness in which they have indulged.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 12:1 Paul here provides an exceptional testimony. His spirit was elevated to the highest contemplation of the divine mysteries, which no human words can describe. He was caught up to the third heaven, that is, beyond the created world, to the point of losing all awareness of his own bodily life, so greatly was his spirit overwhelmed by this experience. This event occurred around the year A.D. 42, five years after his conversion; at that time, Paul was in Syria or Cilicia, some years still before the beginning of his great missions.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul refers to a mysterious trial, possibly an illness, of which Christ did not will to cure him and which increased the difficulties of his apostolic life.
2 Corinthians 12
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.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 Or me, an angel
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 Other mss read My power
- 2 Corinthians 12:15 Lit for your souls, or for your lives
- 2 Corinthians 12:19 Or Have you thought . . . to you?
- 2 Corinthians 12:20 Lit be as you want
- 2 Corinthians 12:21 Or come again my God will
Второ Коринтяни 12
Библия, синодално издание
12 (A)Да се хваля, не ми е за полза, а при все това ще мина към видения и откровения Господни.
2 Зная един човек в Христа, който преди четиринайсет години (с тяло ли, не зная; без тяло ли, не зная: Бог знае) беше грабнат и отнесен до трето небе.
3 И зная тоя човек (с тяло ли, или без тяло, не зная: Бог знае),
4 че беше грабнат и отнесен в рая и чу неизказани думи, които човек не може да изговори.
5 С такъв човек ще се похваля; но със себе си няма да се похваля, освен с моите немощи.
6 Ако пък поискам да се хваля, няма да бъда безумен, защото ще кажа истина; но аз се въздържам, да не би някой да помисли за мене повече, отколкото вижда в мене, или чува от мене.
7 И, за да се не превъзнасям с премногото откровения, даде ми се жило в плътта ангел сатанин, да ме бие по лицето, за да се не превъзнасям.
8 Затова три пъти молих Господа, да го отстрани от мене.
9 (B)Но Той ми рече: стига ти Моята благодат; защото силата Ми се в немощ напълно проявява. Затова с много по-голяма радост ще се хваля с немощите си, за да се всели в мене силата Христова.
10 Затова добре ми е в немощи, в обиди, в нужди, в гонения, в притеснения заради Христа, понеже, кога съм немощен, тогава съм силен.
11 Станах безумен с хвалбите си: вие ме принудихте. От вас трябваше аз да бъда препоръчван, защото в нищо не съм по-долен от върховните апостоли, ако и да съм нищо.
12 Белезите на апостол се показаха на дело сред вас във всяко търпение, в личби, чудеса и сили.
13 (C)Защото, по какво сте останали по-долни от другите църкви, освен по това, дето аз сам не ви дотегнах? Простете ми тая вина.
14 (D)Ето, трети път се готвя да дойда при вас, и няма да ви дотегна; понеже аз търся не вашето, а вас: не децата са длъжни да събират богатство за родителите, а родителите за децата.
15 (E)На драго сърце ще жертвувам и сам ще се пожертвувам за душите ви, при всичко, че, обичайки вас извънмерно, съм помалко обичан от вас.
16 Да кажем, аз не ви отегчих, но, бидейки хитър, с лукавство вземах от вас.
17 (F)Да не би чрез някого от ония, които изпращах при вас, да съм ви изкористил?
18 Аз помолих Тита и пратих с него едного от братята: да не би Тит. да ви е изкористил в нещо? Не в същия ли дух ходихме? Не по същите ли стъпки?
19 (G)Пак ли мислите, че се оправдаваме пред вас? Ние говорим пред Бога, в Христа, и всичко това, възлюбени, за ваше назидание.
20 Защото страхувам се, да не би, кога дойда, да ви намеря не такива, каквито желая; също и вие да ме намерите такъв, какъвто не желаете: да не би да има у вас раздори, завист, гняв, свади, клевети, клюкарство, гордост, бъркотии,
21 да не би пак, кога дойда, да ме унизи у вас моят Бог и да оплаквам мнозина, които са съгрешили преди и не са се покаяли за нечистотата, блудството и разпътството, що са вършили.
2 Corinthians 12
King James Version
12 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
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Дигитална версия: Copyright by © Българско библейско дружество 2016. Използвани с разрешение.
