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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. 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. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, (G)God knows— was (H)caught up into (I)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. (J)On behalf of such a man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in (K)weaknesses. 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

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!

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:1 Or from
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:7 Lit beat

Carried Up to Paradise

12 I must go on boasting, although there is nothing to be gained. So I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago, was carried up to the third heaven (whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know—God knows). And I know that such a man (whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know—God knows) was carried up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words that a man cannot possibly speak.[a] On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. Indeed, if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from doing this, so that no one will think more highly of me than what he sees in me or hears from me.

Therefore,[b] to keep me from becoming arrogant due to the extraordinary nature of these revelations, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me, so that I would not become arrogant.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:4 Or that a man is not permitted to speak
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:7 Some witnesses to the text omit Therefore.