¹³ You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you;

³ And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.

⁷ even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep^[a] me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.^{[b] 8} Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me,^{(A) 9} but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power^[c] is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.^{(B) 10} Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.^(C)

There Is No Other Gospel

⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.^(A)

⁶ Even if I am untrained in speech, I certainly am not with respect to knowledge; certainly in every way and in all things we have made this evident to you.^(A)

¹⁰ For someone says,^[a] “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible.”^(A)

⁴ For he was crucified in weakness but lives by the power of God. For we are weak in him,^[a] but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.^(A)

Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia

⁶ They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.^(A)