Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Paul’s Vision

12 ^(A)Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and ^(B)revelations ^[a]of the Lord. ² 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. ³ And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ^(G)God knows— ⁴ was ^(H)caught up into ^(I)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. ^5 (J)On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my ^(K)weaknesses. ⁶ 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 credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ 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! ⁸ Concerning this I implored the Lord ^(Q)three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(R)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ^(S)boast ^[c]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(T)I am well content with weaknesses, with ^[d]insults, with ^(U)distresses, with ^(V)persecutions, with ^(W)difficulties, ^(X)for Christ’s sake; for ^(Y)when I am weak, then I am strong.

¹¹ I have become ^(Z)foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for ^(AA)in no respect was I inferior to the ^[e]most eminent apostles, even though ^(AB)I am a nobody. ¹² The ^[f](AC)signs ^[g]of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by ^[h]signs and wonders and ^[i]miracles. ¹³ For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that ^(AD)I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me ^(AE)this wrong!

¹⁴ Here ^(AF)for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I ^(AG)will not be a burden to you; for I ^(AH)do not seek what is yours, but ^(AI)you; for ^(AJ)children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but ^(AK)parents for their children. ¹⁵ I will ^(AL)most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If ^(AM)I love you more, am I to be loved less? ¹⁶ But be that as it may, I ^(AN)did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I ^(AO)took you in by deceit. ^17 (AP)Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? ¹⁸ I ^(AQ)urged ^(AR)Titus to go, and I sent ^(AS)the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not ^[j]conduct ourselves ^[k]in the same ^(AT)spirit and walk ^(AU)in the same steps?

¹⁹ All this time ^[l]you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, ^(AV)it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and ^(AW)all for your upbuilding, ^(AX)beloved. ²⁰ For I am afraid that perhaps ^(AY)when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be ^(AZ)strife, jealousy, ^(BA)angry tempers, ^(BB)disputes, ^(BC)slanders, ^(BD)gossip, ^(BE)arrogance, ^(BF)disturbances; ²¹ I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have ^(BG)sinned in the past and not repented of the ^(BH)impurity, ^[m]immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.

Examine Yourselves

13 ^(BI)This is the third time I am coming to you. ^(BJ)Every ^[n]fact ^[o]is to be confirmed by the ^[p]testimony of two or three witnesses. ² I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have ^(BK)sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that ^(BL)if I come again I will not ^(BM)spare anyone, ³ since you are ^(BN)seeking for proof of the ^(BO)Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but ^(BP)mighty in you. ⁴ For indeed He was ^(BQ)crucified because of weakness, yet He lives ^(BR)because of the power of God. For we also are ^(BS)weak ^[q]in Him, yet ^(BT)we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

^5 (BU)Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; ^(BV)examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you ^[r](BW)fail the test? ⁶ But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves ^[s]do not fail the test. ⁷ Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may ^[t]appear unapproved. ⁸ For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹ For we rejoice when we ourselves are ^(BX)weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, ^[u]that you be ^(BY)made complete. ¹⁰ For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present ^(BZ)I need not use ^(CA)severity, in accordance with the ^(CB)authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

^11 (CC)Finally, brethren, ^[v]rejoice, ^[w](CD)be made complete, be comforted, ^(CE)be like-minded, ^(CF)live in peace; and ^(CG)the God of love and peace will be with you. ^12 (CH)Greet one another with a holy kiss. ^13 (CI)All the ^[x]saints greet you.

^14 (CJ)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the ^(CK)love of God, and the ^(CL)fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.