2 Corinthians 12

Name: 2 Corinthians
Author: BiblePics
ISBN: Your ISBN Number

Strength Relationships Suffering Anger Serving Humility Sin Heaven Ascension Love Weakness God Prayer Family Miracles Repentance Encouragement

Paul shares about a vision he had of paradise and the thorn in his flesh.

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Bible version

The Vision of Paradise

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

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

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

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

11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

Commentary

In 2 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul is continuing his discussion of his own experiences and revelations. He begins by recounting a vision he had of being taken up to the third heaven, where he heard inexpressible things that he was not allowed to speak of. He then goes on to explain that he was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to keep him from becoming too proud. He pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away, but the Lord told him that His grace was sufficient for him. Paul then goes on to explain that he will boast in his weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon him. He explains that when he is weak, then he is strong, because it is in his weakness that Christ's power is made perfect. He then goes on to explain that he has been given a special grace to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and that he will not boast in anything except in the cross of Christ. Paul then goes on to explain that he is not seeking the approval of men, but of God. He explains that he is not trying to please men, but God, who tests his heart. He then goes on to explain that he has been faithful in all his dealings with the Corinthians, and that he has not taken advantage of them in any way. In conclusion, Paul is reminding the Corinthians that he is not seeking the approval of men, but of God. He is also reminding them that he has been faithful in all his dealings with them, and that he has not taken advantage of them in any way. He is also reminding them that his weaknesses are actually a source of strength, because it is in his weaknesses that