|
Chapter 12 |
| 1 | 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 your's 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. |
