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.
• 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:
• New Living Translation (NLT)This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord.

Context of 2 Corinthians 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. 2I 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. 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but 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 8:10And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
• John 16:7But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
• John 18:14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
• 1 Corinthians 6:12“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
• 1 Corinthians 10:23“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.
• 2 Corinthians 12:11I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
• 2 Corinthians 11:16I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.
• 2 Corinthians 12:7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
• Numbers 12:6he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.
• Ezekiel 1:1In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
• Ezekiel 11:24The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God. Then the vision I had seen went up from me,
• Daniel 10:5I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
• Joel 2:28“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
• Acts 9:10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.
• Acts 18:9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.
• Acts 22:17“When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at 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