^3 (A)I was with you ^(B)in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

^4 (A)For though He was crucified in weakness, yet ^(B)He lives by the power of God. For ^(C)we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

¹⁰ We are ^(A)fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! ^(B)We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! ¹¹ To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. ^12 (C)And we labor, working with our own hands. ^(D)Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; ¹³ being defamed, we ^[a]entreat. ^(E)We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

⁹ For we are glad ^(A)when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, ^(B)that you may be made complete.

⁵ Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not ^(A)boast, except in my infirmities. ⁶ For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

The Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a ^(B)thorn in the flesh was given to me, ^(C)a messenger of Satan to ^[a]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ^8 (D)Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly ^(E)I will rather boast in my infirmities, ^(F)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(G)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. ^(H)For when I am weak, then I am strong.

¹³ You know that ^(A)because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. ¹⁴ And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me ^(B)as an ^[a]angel of God, ^(C)even as Christ Jesus.

¹⁰ “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but ^(A)his bodily presence is weak, and his ^(B)speech contemptible.”

The Spiritual War

10 Now ^(A)I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—^(B)who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

⁴ But in all things we commend ourselves ^(A)as ministers of God: in much ^[a]patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,