2 Corinthians 12:5

5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:5 in Other Translations

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

5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—

5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses.

5 This is the man I want to talk about. But about myself, I'm not saying another word apart from the humiliations.

5 On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in [my] weaknesses.

5 I'll brag about this person, but I won't brag about myself unless it's about my weaknesses.

5 I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

5 I will brag about a man like that. But I won't brag about myself. I will brag only about how weak I am.

2 Corinthians 12:5 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 12:5

Of such an one will I glory
The apostle in great modesty seems to speak of some other person, and not himself, as caught up into the third heaven, when he yet means himself; and does as it were distinguish himself from himself; himself in paradise from himself on earth; his sense is, that though he might lawfully glory of such a person so highly exalted and favoured, yet since this was his own case, he chose to forbear, and say no more of it:

yet of myself I will not glory;
though he could, and might, and did glory in the Lord, who had done such great things for him; as that he was in Christ, and knew himself to be so, had been rapt up into heaven, and heard things unutterable; yet he would not glory of these things as from himself, as owing to any merit or worthiness of his, but as instances of mere favour, grace, and goodness; if he gloried of anything of himself in his present state and condition, it should be of his weaknesses:

but in mine infirmities;
not his sinful ones, for these he mourned over, and was humbled before God and man under a sense of; but his many pressing difficulties of life, heavy reproaches, very great afflictions, and violent persecutions he endured for Christ's sake; see ( 2 Corinthians 12:10 ) .

2 Corinthians 12:5 In-Context

3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—

4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.

5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.

6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say,

7 or 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.

Cross References

• 1. ver 9,10; S 1 Corinthians 2:3