2 Corinthians 12:2-21

New American Standard Bible

² I know a man ^(A)in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, ^(B)God knows—such a man was ^(C)caught up to the ^(D)third heaven. ³ And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ^(E)God knows— ⁴ was ^(F)caught up into ^(G)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. ^5 (H)In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my ^(I)weaknesses. ⁶ For if I do wish to boast I will not be ^(J)foolish, ^(K)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 extraordinary greatness of the ^(L)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a ^(M)thorn in the flesh, a ^(N)messenger of Satan to ^[a]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord ^(O)three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(P)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ^(Q)boast ^[b]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(R)I delight in weaknesses, in ^[c]insults, in ^(S)distresses, in ^(T)persecutions, in ^(U)difficulties, ^(V)in behalf of Christ; for ^(W)when I am weak, then I am strong.

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

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

¹⁹ All this time ^[j]you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, ^(AT)it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and ^(AU)all for building you up, ^(AV)beloved. ²⁰ For I am afraid that perhaps ^(AW)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 ^(AX)strife, jealousy, ^(AY)angry tempers, ^(AZ)selfishness, ^(BA)slanders, ^(BB)gossip, ^(BC)arrogance, ^(BD)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 ^(BE)sinned in the past and not repented of the ^(BF)impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced.