Study Desk

^(C1)Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and ^(C2)revelations ^(F1)of the Lord.

I know a man ^(C1)in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, ^(C2)God knows—such a man was ^(C3)caught up to the ^(C4)third heaven.

And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ^(C1)God knows—

was ^(C1)caught up into ^(C2)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

^(C1)In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my ^(C2)weaknesses.

For if I do wish to boast I will not be ^(C1)foolish, ^(C2)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.

Because of the extraordinary greatness of the ^(C1)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a ^(C2)thorn in the flesh, a ^(C3)messenger of Satan to ^(F1)torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!

Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord ^(C1)three times that it might leave me.

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(C1)power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ^(C2)boast ^(F1)about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Therefore ^(C1)I delight in weaknesses, in ^(F1)insults, in ^(C2)distresses, in ^(C3)persecutions, in ^(C2)difficulties, ^(C4)in behalf of Christ; for ^(C5)when I am weak, then I am strong.

I have become ^(C1)foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was ^(C2)in no respect inferior to the ^(F1)most eminent apostles, even though ^(C3)I am a nobody.

The ^(C1)distinguishing marks ^(F1)of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by ^(F2)signs, wonders, and ^(F3)miracles.

For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that ^(C1)I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me ^(C2)this wrong!

Here ^(C1)for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I ^(C2)will not be a burden to you; for I ^(C3)do not seek what is yours, but ^(C4)you; for ^(C5)children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but ^(C6)parents for their children.

I will ^(C1)most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If ^(C2)I love you more, am I to be loved less?

But be that as it may, I ^(C1)did not burden you myself; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I ^(C2)took you in by deceit.

^(C1)Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?

I ^(C1)urged ^(C2)Titus to go, and I sent ^(C3)the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not ^(F1)conduct ourselves ^(F2)in the same ^(C4)spirit and walk ^(C5)in the same steps?

All this time ^(F1)you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, ^(C1)it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and ^(C2)all for building you up, ^(C3)beloved.

For I am afraid that perhaps ^(C1)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 ^(C2)strife, jealousy, ^(C3)angry tempers, ^(C4)selfishness, ^(C5)slanders, ^(C6)gossip, ^(C7)arrogance, ^(C8)disturbances;

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 ^(C1)sinned in the past and not repented of the ^(C2)impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced.

^(C1)This is the third time that I am coming to you. ^(C2)ON THE ^(F1)TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY MATTER SHALL BE CONFIRMED.

I have previously said when I was present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have ^(C1)sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that ^(C2)if I come again I will not ^(C3)spare anyone,

since you are ^(C1)seeking proof of the ^(C2)Christ who speaks in me, who is not weak toward you, but ^(C3)mighty in you.

For indeed He was ^(C1)crucified because of weakness, yet He lives ^(C2)because of the power of God. For we too are ^(C3)weak ^(F1)in Him, yet ^(C4)we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

^(C1)Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; ^(C2)examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you ^(F1)(C3)fail the test?

But I expect that you will realize that we ourselves ^(F1)do not fail the test.

Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong; not so that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, though we may ^(F1)appear unapproved.

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

For we rejoice when we ourselves are ^(C1)weak, but you are strong; this we also pray for, ^(F1)that you ^(C2)become mature.

For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present ^(C1)I need not use ^(C2)severity, in accordance with the ^(C3)authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

^(C1)Finally, brothers and sisters, ^(F1)rejoice, ^(C2)mend your ways, be comforted, ^(C3)be like-minded, ^(C4)live in peace; and ^(C5)the God of love and peace will be with you.

^(C1)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

^(C1)All the ^(F1)saints greet you.

^(C1)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the ^(C2)love of God, and the ^(C3)fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.