So (A)to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,[a] (B)a thorn was given me in the flesh, (C)a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (D)Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, (E)“My grace is sufficient for you, for (F)my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that (G)the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 (H)For the sake of Christ, then, (I)I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For (J)when I am weak, then I am strong.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:7 Or hears from me, even because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited

even because of the extraordinary degree of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, in order that it would torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would depart from me. And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because the[a] power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore rather I will boast most gladly in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may reside in me. 10 Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:9 A majority of later manuscripts read “my”