Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

12 To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

² I have known a man in Christ, fourteen years ago -- whether in the body I have not known, whether out of the body I have not known, God hath known -- such an one being caught away unto the third heaven;

³ and I have known such a man -- whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God hath known, --

⁴ that he was caught away to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak.

⁵ Of such an one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities,

⁶ for if I may wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for truth I will say; but I forebear, lest any one in regard to me may think anything above what he doth see me, or doth hear anything of me;

⁷ and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch.

⁸ Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from me,

⁹ and He said to me, `Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;' most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:

¹⁰ wherefore I am well pleased in infirmities, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses -- for Christ; for whenever I am infirm, then I am powerful;

¹¹ I have become a fool -- boasting; ye -- ye did compel me; for I ought by you to have been commended, for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles -- even if I am nothing.

¹² The signs, indeed, of the apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds,

¹³ for what is there in which ye were inferior to the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this injustice!

¹⁴ Lo, a third time I am ready to come unto you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I seek not yours, but you, for the children ought not for the parents to lay up, but the parents for the children,

¹⁵ and I most gladly will spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, more abundantly loving you, less I am loved.

¹⁶ And be it [so], I -- I did not burden you, but being crafty, with guile I did take you;

¹⁷ any one of those whom I have sent unto you -- by him did I take advantage of you?

¹⁸ I entreated Titus, and did send with [him] the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? in the same spirit did we not walk? -- did we not in the same steps?

¹⁹ Again, think ye that to you we are making defence? before God in Christ do we speak; and the all things, beloved, [are] for your up-building,

²⁰ for I fear lest, having come, not such as I wish I may find you, and I -- I may be found by you such as ye do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, evil-speakings, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections,

²¹ lest again having come, my God may humble me in regard to you, and I may bewail many of those having sinned before, and not having reformed concerning the uncleanness, and whoredom, and lasciviousness, that they did practise.

13 This third time do I come unto you; on the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every saying be established;

² I have said before, and I say [it] before, as being present, the second time, and being absent, now, do I write to those having sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare,

³ since a proof ye seek of the Christ speaking in me, who to you is not infirm, but is powerful in you,

⁴ for even if he was crucified from infirmity, yet he doth live from the power of God; for we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him from the power of God toward you.

⁵ Your ownselves try ye, if ye are in the faith; your ownselves prove ye; do ye not know your ownselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, if ye be not in some respect disapproved of?

⁶ and I hope that ye shall know that we -- we are not disapproved of;

⁷ and I pray before God that ye do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is right, and we may be as disapproved;

⁸ for we are not able to do anything against the truth, but for the truth;

⁹ for we rejoice when we may be infirm, and ye may be powerful; and this also we pray for -- your perfection!

¹⁰ because of this, these things -- being absent -- I write, that being present, I may not treat [any] sharply, according to the authority that the Lord did give me for building up, and not for casting down.

¹¹ Henceforth, brethren, rejoice; be made perfect, be comforted, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of the love and peace shall be with you;

¹² salute one another in an holy kiss;

¹³ salute you do all the saints;

¹⁴ the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, [is] with you all! Amen.