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1 | It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to
visions and revelations of the Lord. |
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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. |
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3 | And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the
body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) |
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4 | How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable
words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. |
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5 | Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory,
but in mine infirmities. |
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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. |
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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. |
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8 | For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might
depart from me. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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12 | Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all
patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. |
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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. |
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14 | Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will
not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's but you: for
the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the
parents for the children. |
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15 | And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the
more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. |
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16 | But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being
crafty, I caught you with guile. |
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17 | Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? |
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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? |
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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. |
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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: |
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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. |
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