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2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians

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New American Standard Bible 2020

2 Corinthians 12

Paul’s Vision

11Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and 2revelations 3of the Lord. 2I know a man 4in Christ, who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, 5God knows--such a man was 6caught up to the 7third heaven. 3And I know how such a man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, 8God knows-- 4was 9caught up into 10Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 511In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my 12weaknesses. 6For if I do wish to boast I will not be 13foolish, 14for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

7Because of the extraordinary greatness of the 15revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a 16thorn in the flesh, a 17messenger of Satan to 18torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! 8Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord 19three times that it might leave me. 9And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for 20power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather 21boast 22about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore 23I delight in weaknesses, in 24insults, in 25distresses, in 26persecutions, in 27difficulties, 28in behalf of Christ; for 29when I am weak, then I am strong.

11I have become 30foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was 31in no respect inferior to the 32most eminent apostles, even though 33I am a nobody. 12The 34distinguishing marks 35of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by 36signs, wonders, and 37miracles. 13For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that 38I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me 39this wrong!

14Here 40for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I 41will not be a burden to you; for I 42do not seek what is yours, but 43you; for 44children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but 45parents for their children. 15I will 46most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If 47I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16But be that as it may, I 48did not burden you myself; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I 49took you in by deceit. 1750Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? 18I 51urged 52Titus to go, and I sent 53the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not 54conduct ourselves 55in the same 56spirit and walk 57in the same steps?

19All this time 58you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, 59it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and 60all for building you up, 61beloved. 20For I am afraid that perhaps 62when I come I may find you to be not what I wish, and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be 63strife, jealousy, 64angry tempers, 65selfishness, 66slanders, 67gossip, 68arrogance, 69disturbances; 21I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have 70sinned in the past and not repented of the 71impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced.

Notes

  1. 1. 2 Corinthians 12:1 2 Cor 11:16, 18, 30; 12:5, 9 ↩
  2. 2. 2 Corinthians 12:1 1 Cor 14:6; 2 Cor 12:7; Gal 1:12; 2:2; Eph 3:3 ↩
  3. 3. 2 Corinthians 12:1 Or from ↩
  4. 4. 2 Corinthians 12:2 Rom 16:7 ↩
  5. 5. 2 Corinthians 12:2 2 Cor 11:11 ↩
  6. 6. 2 Corinthians 12:2 Ezek 8:3; Acts 8:39; 2 Cor 12:4; 1 Thess 4:17; Rev 12:5 ↩
  7. 7. 2 Corinthians 12:2 Deut 10:14; Ps 148:4; Eph 4:10; Heb 4:14 ↩
  8. 8. 2 Corinthians 12:3 2 Cor 11:11 ↩
  9. 9. 2 Corinthians 12:4 Ezek 8:3; Acts 8:39; 2 Cor 12:2; 1 Thess 4:17; Rev 12:5 ↩
  10. 10. 2 Corinthians 12:4 Luke 23:43 ↩
  11. 11. 2 Corinthians 12:5 2 Cor 12:1 ↩
  12. 12. 2 Corinthians 12:5 1 Cor 2:3; 2 Cor 12:9f ↩
  13. 13. 2 Corinthians 12:6 2 Cor 5:13; 11:16f; 12:11 ↩
  14. 14. 2 Corinthians 12:6 2 Cor 7:14 ↩
  15. 15. 2 Corinthians 12:7 2 Cor 12:1 ↩
  16. 16. 2 Corinthians 12:7 Num 33:55; Ezek 28:24; Hos 2:6 ↩
  17. 17. 2 Corinthians 12:7 Job 2:6; Matt 4:10; 1 Cor 5:5 ↩
  18. 18. 2 Corinthians 12:7 Lit beat ↩
  19. 19. 2 Corinthians 12:8 Matt 26:44 ↩
  20. 20. 2 Corinthians 12:9 1 Cor 2:5; Eph 3:16; Phil 4:13 ↩
  21. 21. 2 Corinthians 12:9 1 Cor 2:3; 2 Cor 12:5 ↩
  22. 22. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Lit in ↩
  23. 23. 2 Corinthians 12:10 Rom 5:3; 8:35 ↩
  24. 24. 2 Corinthians 12:10 Or mistreatment ↩
  25. 25. 2 Corinthians 12:10 2 Cor 6:4 ↩
  26. 26. 2 Corinthians 12:10 2 Thess 1:4; 2 Tim 3:11 ↩
  27. 27. 2 Corinthians 12:10 2 Cor 6:4 ↩
  28. 28. 2 Corinthians 12:10 2 Cor 5:15, 20 ↩
  29. 29. 2 Corinthians 12:10 2 Cor 13:4 ↩
  30. 30. 2 Corinthians 12:11 2 Cor 5:13; 11:16f; 12:6 ↩
  31. 31. 2 Corinthians 12:11 1 Cor 15:10; 2 Cor 11:5 ↩
  32. 32. 2 Corinthians 12:11 Or super-apostles ↩
  33. 33. 2 Corinthians 12:11 1 Cor 3:7; 13:2; 15:9 ↩
  34. 34. 2 Corinthians 12:12 John 4:48; Rom 15:19; 1 Cor 9:1 ↩
  35. 35. 2 Corinthians 12:12 Lit of the apostle ↩
  36. 36. 2 Corinthians 12:12 Or confirming miracles ↩
  37. 37. 2 Corinthians 12:12 Or works of power ↩
  38. 38. 2 Corinthians 12:13 1 Cor 9:12, 18; 2 Cor 11:9; 12:14 ↩
  39. 39. 2 Corinthians 12:13 2 Cor 11:7 ↩
  40. 40. 2 Corinthians 12:14 2 Cor 1:15; 13:1, 2 ↩
  41. 41. 2 Corinthians 12:14 1 Cor 9:12, 18; 2 Cor 11:9; 12:13 ↩
  42. 42. 2 Corinthians 12:14 1 Cor 10:24, 33 ↩
  43. 43. 2 Corinthians 12:14 1 Cor 9:19 ↩
  44. 44. 2 Corinthians 12:14 1 Cor 4:14f; Gal 4:19 ↩
  45. 45. 2 Corinthians 12:14 Prov 19:14; Ezek 34:2 ↩
  46. 46. 2 Corinthians 12:15 Rom 9:3; 2 Cor 1:6; Phil 2:17; Col 1:24; 1 Thess 2:8; 2 Tim 2:10 ↩
  47. 47. 2 Corinthians 12:15 2 Cor 11:11 ↩
  48. 48. 2 Corinthians 12:16 2 Cor 11:9 ↩
  49. 49. 2 Corinthians 12:16 2 Cor 11:20 ↩
  50. 50. 2 Corinthians 12:17 2 Cor 9:5 ↩
  51. 51. 2 Corinthians 12:18 2 Cor 8:6 ↩
  52. 52. 2 Corinthians 12:18 2 Cor 2:13 ↩
  53. 53. 2 Corinthians 12:18 2 Cor 8:18 ↩
  54. 54. 2 Corinthians 12:18 Lit walk ↩
  55. 55. 2 Corinthians 12:18 Or by the same Spirit ↩
  56. 56. 2 Corinthians 12:18 1 Cor 4:21 ↩
  57. 57. 2 Corinthians 12:18 Rom 4:12 ↩
  58. 58. 2 Corinthians 12:19 Or have you been thinking...? ↩
  59. 59. 2 Corinthians 12:19 Rom 9:1; 2 Cor 2:17 ↩
  60. 60. 2 Corinthians 12:19 Rom 14:19; 2 Cor 10:8; 1 Thess 5:11 ↩
  61. 61. 2 Corinthians 12:19 Heb 6:9 ↩
  62. 62. 2 Corinthians 12:20 1 Cor 4:21; 2 Cor 2:1-4 ↩
  63. 63. 2 Corinthians 12:20 1 Cor 1:11; 3:3 ↩
  64. 64. 2 Corinthians 12:20 Gal 5:20 ↩
  65. 65. 2 Corinthians 12:20 Rom 2:8; 1 Cor 11:19 ↩
  66. 66. 2 Corinthians 12:20 Rom 1:30; James 4:11; 1 Pet 2:1 ↩
  67. 67. 2 Corinthians 12:20 Rom 1:29 ↩
  68. 68. 2 Corinthians 12:20 1 Cor 4:6, 18; 5:2 ↩
  69. 69. 2 Corinthians 12:20 1 Cor 14:33 ↩
  70. 70. 2 Corinthians 12:21 2 Cor 13:2 ↩
  71. 71. 2 Corinthians 12:21 1 Cor 6:9, 18; Gal 5:19; Col 3:5 ↩

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12

New American Standard Bible 2020 — © 1960–2020 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.