Anderson - II Corinthians - 12

12:1  To boast is not suitable for me; I will come to visions and revelations from the Lord.

12:2  I knew a man in Christ fourteen years ago; that such a one (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not: God knows;) was caught away to the third heaven.

12:3  I also know that such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knows,)

12:4  was caught away to Paradise, and heard words not to be spoken, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

12:5  Of such a one I will boast; but of myself I will not boast, unless in my infirmities.

12:6  For though I should choose to boast, I would not be void of understanding: for I will speak the truth. But I forbear, lest any one should think of me more than what he sees me to be, or what he hears of me.

12:7  And, lest I should be too much exalted by the excellence of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I might not be too much exalted.

12:8  With regard to this, I three times entreated the Lord that it might leave me;

12:9  and he said to me: My grace is sufficient for you; for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may abide upon me.

12:10  For this reason, I take pleasure in infirmities, in outrages, in necessities, in persecutions, in straits, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

12:11  I have become of no understanding; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you: I am in no respect inferior to the very greatest of the apostles, although I am nothing.

12:12  Truly, the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

12:13  For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, unless in this―that I did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong.

12:14  Behold, I am ready the third time to come to you, and I will not burden you: for I seek not yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the children.

12:15  I, indeed, will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

12:16  Be it so, indeed; I did not burden you; but being crafty, I caught you by deceit.

12:17  Did I overreach you by any of those whom I sent to you?

12:18  I exhorted Titus, and with him sent the brother. Did Titus overreach you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

12:19  Do you think again that we offer you a defense of ourselves? We speak all these things before God in Christ, beloved, for your edification.

12:20  For I fear, lest when I come I shall find you not, such as I wish, and I shall be found by you not such as you wish: lest there shall be contentions, envies, excitements, strife, evil speaking, whisperings, party spirit, disorderly conduct:

12:21  lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn over many of those who have already sinned, and have not repented of the uncleanness and lewdness and wantonness which they have committed.