2 Corinthians 12 (New American Standard)

View In My Bible

Strongs Numbers
Footnotes (a-z)
Cross references (#)
Red letter
One verse per line

Paul's Vision

1 ¹Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable ; but I will go on to visions and ²revelations ^aof the Lord. 2 I know a man ³in Christ who fourteen years ago -whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, ⁴God knows -such a man was ⁵caught up to the ⁶third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man -whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ⁷God knows - 4 was ⁸caught up into ⁹Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 ¹⁰On behalf of such a man I will boast ; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my ¹¹weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be ¹²foolish, ¹³for 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

7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the ¹⁴revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a ¹⁵thorn in the flesh, a ¹⁶messenger of Satan to ^btorment me-to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord ¹⁷three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for ¹⁸power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather ¹⁹boast ^cabout my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore ²⁰I am well content with weaknesses, with ^dinsults, with ²¹distresses, with ²²persecutions, with ²³difficulties, ²⁴for Christ's sake ; for ²⁵when I am weak, then I am strong. 11 I have become ²⁶foolish ; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for ²⁷in no respect was I inferior to the ^emost eminent apostles, even though ²⁸I am a nobody. 12 The ^f²⁹signs ^gof a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by ^hsigns and wonders and ⁱmiracles. 13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that ³⁰I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me ³¹this wrong ! 14 Here ³²for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I ³³will not be a burden to you; for I ³⁴do not seek what is yours, but ³⁵you; for ³⁶children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but ³⁷parents for their children. 15 I will ³⁸most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If ³⁹I love you more, am I to be loved less ? 16 But be that as it may, I ⁴⁰did not burden you myself ; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I ⁴¹took you in by deceit. 17 ⁴²Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? 18 I ⁴³urged ⁴⁴Titus to go, and I sent ⁴⁵the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not ^jconduct ourselves ^kin the same ⁴⁶spirit and walk ⁴⁷in the same steps ? 19 All this time ^lyou have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, ⁴⁸it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ ; and ⁴⁹all for your upbuilding, ⁵⁰beloved. 20 For I am afraid that perhaps ⁵¹when 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 ⁵²strife, jealousy, ⁵³angry tempers, ⁵⁴disputes, ⁵⁵slanders, ⁵⁶gossip, ⁵⁷arrogance, ⁵⁸disturbances ; 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have ⁵⁹sinned in the past and not repented of the ⁶⁰impurity, ^mimmorality and sensuality which they have practiced.

<< 2 Corinthians 11 2 Corinthians 12 2 Corinthians 13 >>

View in parallel Interlinear view Compare Translations

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved. (New American Standard Version - Holy Bible)

Study Tools Footnotes Cross References