1 Boasting R457 is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations R458 of F97 the Lord. 2 I know a man in R459 Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God R460 knows--such a man was caught R461 up to the third R462 heaven. 3 And I know how such a man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God R463 knows-- 4 was caught R464 up into Paradise R465 and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 On R466 behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. R4676 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, R468 for R469 I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain fromthis, 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 revelations, R470 for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn R471 in the flesh, a messenger R472 of Satan to torment F98 me--to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three R473 times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power R474 is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast R475 about F99 my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I R476 am well content with weaknesses, with insults, F100 with distresses, R477 with persecutions, R478 with difficulties, R477 for R479 Christ's sake; for when R480 I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I have become foolish; R481 you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in R482 no respect was I inferior to the most F101 eminent apostles, even though I R483 am a nobody. 12 The signs R484F102 of F103 a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs F102 and wonders and miracles. F10413 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I R485 myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this R486 wrong!
14 Here for R487 this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will R488 not be a burden to you; for I do R489 not seek what is yours, but you; R490 for children R491 are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents R492 for their children. 15 I will most R493 gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I R494 love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But be that as it may, I did R495 not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took R496 you in by deceit. 17CertainlyR497 I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? 18 I urged R498 Titus R499to go, and I sent the R500 brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct F105 ourselves in F106 the same spirit R501and walk in R502 the same steps?
19 All this time you F107 have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it R503 is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all R504 for your upbuilding, beloved. R50520 For I am afraid that perhaps when R506 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 strife, R507 jealousy, angry R508 tempers, disputes, R509 slanders, R510 gossip, R511 arrogance, R512 disturbances; R51321 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 sinned R514 in the past and not repented of the impurity, R515 immorality F108 and sensuality which they have practiced.
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