2 Corinthians 12:1

2 Corinthians 12:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
• New King James Version (NKJV)It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:

Context of 2 Corinthians 12:1

It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. 3And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows)

2 Corinthians 12:1 word by word

Καυχᾶσθαι δεῖ, οὐ συμφέρον μέν, ἐλεύσομαι δὲ εἰς ὀπτασίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεις κυρίου.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• It isσυμφέρωsumpherō · be profitableG4851
• notοὐou · noG3756
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• doubtlessδήdē · soG1211
• to gloryκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
• I will comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• visionsὀπτασίαoptasia · visionG3701
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• revelationsἀποκάλυψιςapokalupsis · revelationG602
• of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 12:1

• 2 Corinthians 8:10So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give,
• John 16:7But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.
• John 18:14(Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.)
• 1 Corinthians 6:12“All things are lawful for me” – but not everything is beneficial. “All things are lawful for me” – but I will not be controlled by anything.
• 1 Corinthians 10:23“Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds others up.
• 2 Corinthians 12:11I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
• 2 Corinthians 11:16I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
• 2 Corinthians 12:7even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me – so that I would not become arrogant.
• Numbers 12:6The Lord said, “Hear now my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known to him in a vision; I will speak with him in a dream.
• Ezekiel 1:1In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles at the Kebar River, the heavens opened and I saw a divine vision.
• Ezekiel 11:24Then a wind lifted me up and carried me to the exiles in Babylonia, in the vision given to me by the Spirit of God. Then the vision I had seen went up from me.
• Daniel 10:5I looked up and saw a man clothed in linen; around his waist was a belt made of gold from Upaz.
• Joel 2:28(3:1) After all of this I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your elderly will have revelatory dreams; your young men will see prophetic visions.
• Acts 9:10Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias,” and he replied, “Here I am, Lord.”
• Acts 18:9The Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent,
• Acts 22:17When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1It is not expedient for me - There are several various readings on this verse which are too minute to be noticed here; they seem in effect to represent the verse thus: "If it be expedient to glory, (which does not become me), I will proceed to visions," etc. The plain meaning of the apostle, in this and the preceding chapter, in reference to glorying is, that though to boast in any attainments, or in what God did by him, was in all possible cases to be…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1It is not expedient - It is not well; it does not become me. This may either mean that he felt and admitted that it did not become him to boast in this manner; that there was an impropriety in his doing it though circumstances had compelled him, and in this sense it is understood by nearly, or quite, all expositors; or it may be taken ironically. “Such a man as I am ought not to boast. So you say, and so it would seem. A man who has done no more than I…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The apostle's revelations. (1-6) Which were improved to his spiritual advantage. (7-10) The signs of an apostle were in him, His purpose of making them a visit; but he expresses his fear lest he should have to be severe with some. (11-21) Verses 1-6 There can be no doubt the apostle speaks of himself. Whether heavenly things were brought down to him, while his body was in a trance, as in the case of ancient prophets; or whether his soul was dislodged from…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Although there is nothing to gain: See study note on 2 Corinthians 11:21b–29.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-212Co 12:1-21. Revelations in Which He Might Glory: But He Rather Glories in Infirmities, as Calling Forth Christ's Power: Signs of His Apostleship: His Disinterestedness: Not That He Is Excusing Himself to Them; but He Does All for Their Good, lest He Should Find Them Not Such as He Desired, and So Should Have to Be Severe at His Coming. 1. He proceeds to illustrate the "glorying in infirmities" (2Co 11:30). He gave one instance which might expose him to…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 12:1

• Paul
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• Backbiting
• Crafty
• Excuse
• Gain
• Grace
• Perfect
• Revelation
• Sufficient
• Thorn
• Trance

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