2Cor.12.1

You've forced me to talk this way, and I do it against my better judgment. But now that we're at it, I may as well bring up the matter of visions and revelations that God gave me.

2Cor.12.1

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

2Cor.12.1

It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:

2Cor.12.1

This boasting is all so foolish, but let me go on. Let me tell about the visions and revelations I received from the Lord.

2Cor.12.2

For instance, I know a man who, fourteen years ago, was seized by Christ and swept in ecstasy to the heights of heaven. I really don't know if this took place in the body or out of it; only God knows.

2Cor.12.2

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.

2Cor.12.2

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a one was caught up to the third heaven.

2Cor.12.2

I was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago.

2Cor.12.3

I also know that this man was hijacked into paradise--again, whether in or out of the body, I don't know; God knows. There he heard the unspeakable spoken, but was forbidden to tell what he heard.

2Cor.12.3

And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--

2Cor.12.3

And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--

2Cor.12.3

Whether my body was there or just my spirit, I don't know; only God knows.

2Cor.12.4

This is the man I want to talk about. But about myself, I'm not saying another word apart from the humiliations.

2Cor.12.4

was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.

2Cor.12.4

how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

2Cor.12.4

But I do know that I was caught up into paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be told.

2Cor.12.5

If I had a mind to brag a little, I could probably do it without looking ridiculous, and I'd still be speaking plain truth all the way. But I'll spare you. I don't want anyone imagining me as anything other than the fool you'd encounter if you saw me on the street or heard me talk.

2Cor.12.5

I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.

2Cor.12.5

Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.

2Cor.12.5

That experience is something worth boasting about, but I am not going to do it. I am going to boast only about my weaknesses.

2Cor.12.6

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty!

2Cor.12.6

Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, 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.

2Cor.12.6

For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

2Cor.12.6

I have plenty to boast about and would be no fool in doing it, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it. I don't want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message,

2Cor.12.7

At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that,

2Cor.12.7

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

2Cor.12.7

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

2Cor.12.7

even though I have received wonderful revelations from God. But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud.

2Cor.12.8

and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness.

2Cor.12.8

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

2Cor.12.8

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

2Cor.12.8

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.

2Cor.12.9

Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size--abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. [JC]

2Cor.12.9

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

2Cor.12.9

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2Cor.12.9

Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.

2Cor.12.10

Well, now I've done it! I've made a complete fool of myself by going on like this. But it's not all my fault; you put me up to it. You should have been doing this for me, sticking up for me and commending me instead of making me do it for myself. You know from personal experience that even if I'm a nobody, a nothing, I wasn't second-rate compared to those big-shot apostles you're so taken with.

2Cor.12.10

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2Cor.12.10

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2Cor.12.10

Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.