God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 12:5
5I’ll brag about this person, but I won’t brag about myself unless it’s about my weaknesses.
2 Corinthians 12:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
- New International Version (NIV)I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.
- English Standard Version (ESV)On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—
- New King James Version (NKJV)Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
Context of 2 Corinthians 12:5
3I know that this person 4was snatched away to paradise where he heard things that can’t be expressed in words, things that humans cannot put into words. I don’t know whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows. I’ll brag about this person, but I won’t brag about myself unless it’s about my weaknesses. 6If I ever wanted to brag, I wouldn’t be a fool. Instead, I would be telling the truth. But I’m going to spare you so that no one may think more of me than what he sees or hears about me, 7especially because of the excessive number of revelations that I’ve had. Therefore, to keep me from becoming conceited, I am forced to deal with a recurring problem. That problem, Satan’s messenger, torments me to keep me from being conceited.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 122 Corinthians 12:5 word by word
ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοιούτου καυχήσομαι, ὑπὲρ δὲ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐ καυχήσομαι εἰ μὴ ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαιςRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Ofὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
- such an oneτοιοῦτοςtoioutos · such as thisG5108
- will I gloryκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
- yetδέde · thenG1161
- myselfἐμαυτοῦemautou emautō emauton · myselfG1683
- notοὐou · noG3756
- butεἰei · if: notG1487
- ·μήmē · notG3361
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- mineἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- infirmitiesἀσθένειαastheneia · weakness: weakG769
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:5
- 2 Corinthians 12:2I know a follower of Christ who was snatched away to the third heaven fourteen years ago. I don’t know whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9But he told me: “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I will brag even more about my weaknesses in order that Christ’s power will live in me.
- 2 Corinthians 11:30If I must brag, I will brag about the things that show how weak I am.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Of such a one will I glory - Through modesty he does not mention himself, though the account can be understood of no other person; for, did he mean any other, the whole account would be completely irrelevant.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Of such an one will I glory - Of such a man it would be right to boast. It would be admitted that it is right to exult in such a man, and to esteem him to be uniquely favored by God. I will boast of him as having received special honor from the Lord. Bloomfield, however, supposes that the words rendered “of such an one should be translated “of such a thing,” or of such a transaction; meaning” I can indeed justly boast of my being caught up to heaven as of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-7Paul could talk about his experience (12:2–4), but it did not give him confidence in his ministry. He never uses mystical experiences to prove his apostolic authority. His life and message must be the proof. Instead, he talks about his weaknesses (11:23–33).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. of myself--concerning myself. Self is put in the background, except in respect to his infirmities. His glorying in his other self, to which the revelations were vouchsafed, was not in order to give glory to his fleshly self, but to bring out in contrast the "infirmities" of the latter, that Christ might have all the glory.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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