12 I must continue to praise myself. It will not really help you, but I will tell you anyway. The Lord has shown me special things, like in a dream. 2 I know a certain man who belongs to Christ. 14 years ago, God quickly took this man up to the third heaven. Perhaps this man was still in his body. Perhaps he had gone away from his body. I do not know. Only God knows. 3-4 I know that God took this man up to paradise. I do not know whether this man was still in his body or not. Only God knows. When this man was in heaven, he heard about secret things. Those are things that no words can describe. God will not let any person speak about those things. They are too special. [ a ]
5 I will say proud things about a man like that. But I will not be proud of anything good about myself. I will only be proud of things that show my weakness. 6 If I did want to praise myself, that would not make me a fool. No, because I would be saying true things. But I will not say good things about myself. I want everyone to think properly about me. People should look at how I live. They should think about what I say. That is enough for them to decide about me.
7 Yes, God did show me many things that were very special. But he did not want me to be proud because of that. So he gave me a pain in my body, like a sharp thorn. Satan uses that pain to give me much trouble. It is like Satan's angel that he sends to hurt me. That certainly stops me from being proud of myself! 8 I asked the Lord three times to take this pain away from me. 9 But he said to me, ‘I will be kind to you and I will help you. That will be enough for you. When you are weak, I will show that I am completely powerful to help you.’
So I am happy to be proud about my weakness. Then I know that Christ's power will be with me. 10 That is why I am happy even when I am weak. People may insult me. They may bring me trouble. They may want to hurt me. I may have many kinds of trouble. But I am still happy because I am serving Christ. Yes, whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I am speaking like a proud fool, but you have made me do it. You yourselves should be saying good things about me. I may not be important. But I am as good as those very special apostles. [ b ] 12 When I was there with you, I showed that I was a true apostle. I worked patiently among you. I did many miracles and great things that showed God's power. 13 I worked among you in the same way as I did with the other churches. You were never less important to me than they are. The only difference is that I did not ask you to help me with money. So perhaps I should ask you to forgive me for that!
14 Listen to me! This is the third time that I am ready to visit you. I will not ask you to give anything to me. I do not want any of your things. Instead, I want you yourselves. You are like my children. Children should not have to supply what their parents need. It is parents who should supply what their children need. 15 So I will be happy to give everything that I have to you. I will be happy to give myself too, because I want to help you. Perhaps I love you too much! But that should not mean that you will love me less than you should.
16 I did not give you trouble. You surely know that. But some of you say that I deceived you. You think that I was clever and I got money from you. 17 That is not true! When I sent people to you, they never cheated you on my behalf. 18 I asked Titus to come and visit you, and I sent another Christian friend with him. But Titus certainly did not deceive you to get anything from you. Both he and I have always been completely honest with you. We both think in the same way.
19 What are you thinking when you read all this? Do you think that we want to show you how good we are? No, we are speaking as people who belong to Christ. God knows us. Everything that we do is to help you. We love you and we want to make you stronger as believers.
20 When I come there to visit you, I hope you will be living in a good way. But I am afraid that I will not see what I want to see. Then you will see that I am different from what you want me to be! I am afraid that you may be quarrelling. You may be jealous of each other. You may be very angry with each other. Some of you may just want to please yourselves. You may be insulting one another, or telling lies about one another. You may be proud of how good you are. You may be causing trouble for one another. Yes, I am afraid that all those things may be happening among you.
21 I am afraid that I may be very sad when I come back to you. My God may cause me to feel ashamed about you. Some of you may still be doing bad and disgusting things. You may be having sex with people that you are not married to, or in other wrong ways. Those are the bad things that many of you did at one time. If you have not turned away from those bad things, that will make me weep.
12 There is more that I have to say about myself. It won’t help, but I will talk now about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man [ a ] in Christ who was taken up to the third heaven. This happened 14 years ago. I don’t know if the man was in his body or out of his body, but God knows. 3-4 And I know that this man was taken up to paradise. I don’t know if he was in his body or away from his body, but he heard things that he is not able to explain. He heard things that no one is allowed to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself. I will boast only about my weaknesses.
6 But if I wanted to say more about myself, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t say any more, because I don’t want people to think more of me than what they see me do or hear me say.
7 But I must not be too proud of the wonderful things that were shown to me. So a painful problem [ b ] was given to me—an angel from Satan, sent to make me suffer, so that I would not think that I am better than anyone else. 8 I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. 9 But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me. 10 Yes, I am glad to have weaknesses if they are for Christ. I am glad to be insulted and have hard times. I am glad when I am persecuted and have problems, because it is when I am weak that I am really strong.
11 I have been talking like a fool, but you made me do it. You people are the ones who should say good things about me. I am worth nothing, but those “super apostles” are not worth any more than I am! 12 When I was with you, I patiently did the things that prove I am an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles. 13 So you received everything that the other churches have received. Only one thing was different: I was not a burden to you. Forgive me for this!
14 I am now ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want any of the things you own. I only want you. Children should not have to save things to give to their parents. Parents should save to give to their children. 15 So I am happy to give everything I have for you. I will even give myself for you. If I love you more, will you love me less?
16 It is clear that I was not a burden to you, but you think that I was tricky and used lies to catch you. 17 Did I cheat you by using any of the men I sent to you? You know I didn’t. 18 I asked Titus to go to you, and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not cheat you, did he? No, you know that his actions and his attitude were the same as ours.
19 Do you think that we have been defending ourselves to you all this time? No, we say these things in Christ and before God. You are our dear friends, and everything we do is to make you stronger. 20 I do this because I am afraid that when I come, you will not be what I want you to be. And I am afraid that I will not be what you want me to be. I am afraid that I will find arguing, jealousy, anger, selfish fighting, evil talk, gossip, pride, and confusion there. 21 I am afraid that when I come to you again, my God will make me humble before you. I may have to cry over the loss of some who sinned before. Many of them have still not changed their hearts to be sorry for their evil lives, their sexual sins, and the shameful things they have done.
12 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
12 ( A ) Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and ( B ) revelations [ a ] of the Lord. 2 I know a man ( C ) in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, ( D ) God knows—such a man was ( E ) caught up to the ( F ) third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ( G ) God knows— 4 was ( H ) caught up into ( I ) Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 ( J ) In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my ( K ) weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be ( L ) foolish, ( M ) 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.
7 Because of the extraordinary greatness of the ( N ) revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a ( O ) thorn in the flesh, a ( P ) messenger of Satan to [ b ] torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord ( Q ) three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for ( R ) power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ( S ) boast [ c ] about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore ( T ) I delight in weaknesses, in [ d ] insults, in ( U ) distresses, in ( V ) persecutions, in ( W ) difficulties, ( X ) in behalf of Christ; for ( Y ) when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I have become ( Z ) foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was ( AA ) in no respect inferior to the [ e ] most eminent apostles, even though ( AB ) I am a nobody. 12 The ( AC ) distinguishing marks [ f ] of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by [ g ] signs, wonders, and [ h ] miracles. 13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that ( AD ) I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me ( AE ) this wrong!
14 Here ( AF ) for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I ( AG ) will not be a burden to you; for I ( AH ) do not seek what is yours, but ( AI ) you; for ( AJ ) children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but ( AK ) parents for their children. 15 I will ( AL ) most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If ( AM ) I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But be that as it may, I ( AN ) did not burden you myself; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I ( AO ) took you in by deceit. 17 ( AP ) Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? 18 I ( AQ ) urged ( AR ) Titus to go , and I sent ( AS ) the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not [ i ] conduct ourselves [ j ] in the same ( AT ) spirit and walk ( AU ) in the same steps?
19 All this time [ k ] you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually , ( AV ) it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and ( AW ) all for building you up, ( AX ) beloved. 20 For I am afraid that perhaps ( AY ) 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 ( AZ ) strife, jealousy, ( BA ) angry tempers, ( BB ) selfishness, ( BC ) slanders, ( BD ) gossip, ( BE ) arrogance, ( BF ) 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 ( BG ) sinned in the past and not repented of the ( BH ) impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced.
12 I must go on boasting. ( A ) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations ( B ) from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ ( C ) who fourteen years ago was caught up ( D ) to the third heaven. ( E ) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. ( F ) 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up ( G ) to paradise ( H ) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. ( I ) 6 Even if I should choose to boast, ( J ) I would not be a fool, ( K ) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. ( L ) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, ( M ) a messenger of Satan, ( N ) to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ( O ) 9 But he said to me, “My grace ( P ) is sufficient for you, for my power ( Q ) is made perfect in weakness. ( R ) ” ( S ) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight ( T ) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, ( U ) in persecutions, ( V ) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ( W )
11 I have made a fool of myself, ( X ) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” [ a ] ( Y ) even though I am nothing. ( Z ) 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. ( AA ) 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? ( AB ) Forgive me this wrong! ( AC )
14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, ( AD ) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, ( AE ) but parents for their children. ( AF ) 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. ( AG ) If I love you more, ( AH ) will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. ( AI ) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18 I urged ( AJ ) Titus ( AK ) to go to you and I sent our brother ( AL ) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God ( AM ) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, ( AN ) is for your strengthening. ( AO ) 20 For I am afraid that when I come ( AP ) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. ( AQ ) I fear that there may be discord, ( AR ) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, ( AS ) slander, ( AT ) gossip, ( AU ) arrogance ( AV ) and disorder. ( AW ) 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved ( AX ) over many who have sinned earlier ( AY ) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery ( AZ ) in which they have indulged.
