Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

12 Well, it is not of profit to me to boast, for I will come to visions and revelations of [the] Lord.

² I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago, (whether in [the] body I know not, or out of the body I know not, God knows;) such [a one] caught up to [the] third heaven.

³ And I know such a man, (whether in [the] body or out of the body I know not, God knows;)

⁴ that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable things said which it is not allowed to man to utter.

⁵ Of such [a one] I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, unless in my weaknesses.

⁶ For if I shall desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will say [the] truth; but I forbear, lest any one should think as to me above what he sees me [to be], or whatever he may hear of me.

⁷ And that I might not be exalted by the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted.

⁸ For this I thrice besought the Lord that it might depart from me.

⁹ And he said to me, My grace suffices thee; for [my] power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may dwell upon me.

¹⁰ Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in straits, for Christ: for when I am weak, then I am powerful.

¹¹ I have become a fool; *ye* have compelled me; for *I* ought to have been commended by you; for I have been nothing behind those who were in surpassing degree apostles, if also I am nothing.

¹² The signs indeed of the apostle were wrought among you in all endurance, signs, and wonders, and works of power.

¹³ For in what is it that ye have been inferior to the other assemblies, unless that I myself have not been in laziness a charge upon you? Forgive me this injury.

¹⁴ Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be in laziness a charge; for I do not seek yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

¹⁵ Now *I* shall most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls, if even in abundantly loving you I should be less loved.

¹⁶ But be it so. *I* did not burden you, but being crafty I took you by guile.

¹⁷ Did I make gain of you by any of those whom I have sent to you?

¹⁸ I begged Titus, and sent the brother with [him]: did Titus at all make gain of you? have we not walked in the same spirit? [have we] not in the same steps?

¹⁹ Ye have long been supposing that we excuse ourselves to you: we speak before God in Christ; and all things, beloved, for your building up.

²⁰ For I fear lest perhaps coming I find you not such as I wish, and that *I* be found by you such as ye do not wish: lest [there might be] strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;

²¹ lest my God should humble me as to you when I come again, and that I shall grieve over many of those who have sinned before, and have not repented as to the uncleanness and fornication and licentiousness which they have practised.

13 This third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every matter be established.

² I have declared beforehand, and I say beforehand as present the second time, and now absent, to those that have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare.

³ Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, (who is not weak towards you, but is powerful among you,

⁴ for if indeed he has been crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power; for indeed *we* are weak in him, but we shall live with him by God's power towards you,)

⁵ examine your own selves if ye be in the faith; prove your own selves: do ye not recognise yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed ye be reprobates?

⁶ Now I hope that ye will know that *we* are not reprobates.

⁷ But we pray to God that ye may do nothing evil; not that *we* may appear approved, but that *ye* may do what is right, and *we* be as reprobates.

⁸ For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

⁹ For we rejoice when *we* may be weak and *ye* may be powerful. But this also we pray for, your perfecting.

¹⁰ On this account I write these things being absent, that being present I may not use severity according to the authority which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for overthrowing.

¹¹ For the rest, brethren, rejoice; be perfected; be encouraged; be of one mind; be at peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

¹² Salute one another with a holy kiss.

¹³ All the saints salute you.

¹⁴ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, [be] with you all.