12Verse 1It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.Verse 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven.Verse 3And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows)Verse 4was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak.Verse 5On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.Verse 6For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me,Verse 7even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me – so that I would not become arrogant.Verse 8I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me.Verse 9But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.Verse 10Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
The Signs of an Apostle
Verse 11I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.Verse 12Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.Verse 13For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!Verse 14Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.Verse 15Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less?Verse 16But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit!Verse 17I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I?Verse 18I urged Titus to visit you and I sent our brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way?Verse 19Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.Verse 20For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.Verse 21I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.