Parallel Bible results for "2 corinthians 12"

2 Corinthians 12

Third Millennium Bible TMB

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

2 I knew a man in Christ more than fourteen years ago (whether in the body I cannot tell, or whether out of the body I cannot tell -- God knoweth). Such a one was 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 and how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 Of such a one will I glory, yet of myself I will not glory, except 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 than 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 sufficent for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I glory rather in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

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

11 I have become a fool in glorying. Ye have compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you. For in nothing am I inferior to the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.

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

13 For in what are ye inferior to other churches, unless it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

14 Behold, for 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 am loved.

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

17 Did I gain from you by any of those whom I sent unto you?

18 I desired Titus to go, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make any gain from you? Walked we not in the same spirit? Walked we not in the same steps?

19 Again, think you that we excuse ourselves to 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 by you as ye would not, lest there be debates, envyings, wrath, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, boastings, tumults;

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

GOD'S WORD Translation GW

1 I must brag, although it doesn't do any good. I'll go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

2 I know a follower of Christ who was snatched away to the third heaven fourteen years ago. I don't know whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows.

3 I know that this person

4 was snatched away to paradise where he heard things that can't be expressed in words, things that humans cannot put into words. I don't know whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows.

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

6 If I ever wanted to brag, I wouldn't be a fool. Instead, I would be telling the truth. But I'm going to spare you so that no one may think more of me than what he sees or hears about me,

7 especially because of the excessive number of revelations that I've had. Therefore, to keep me from becoming conceited, I am forced to deal with a recurring problem. That problem, Satan's messenger, torments me to keep me from being conceited.

8 I begged the Lord three times to take it away from me.

9 But he told me: "My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak." So I will brag even more about my weaknesses in order that Christ's power will live in me.

10 Therefore, I accept weakness, mistreatment, hardship, persecution, and difficulties suffered for Christ. It's clear that when I'm weak, I'm strong.

11 I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. You should have recommended me to others. Even if I'm nothing, I wasn't inferior in any way to your super-apostles.

12 While I was among you I patiently did the signs, wonders, and miracles which prove that I'm an apostle.

13 How were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I didn't bother you for help? Forgive me for this wrong!

14 I'm ready to visit you for a third time, and I won't bother you for help. I don't want your possessions. Instead, I want you. Children shouldn't have to provide for their parents, but parents should provide for their children.

15 I will be very glad to spend whatever I have. I'll even give myself for you. Do you love me less because I love you so much?

16 You agree, then, that I haven't been a burden to you. Was I a clever person who trapped you by some trick?

17 Did I take advantage of you through any of the men I sent you?

18 I encouraged Titus to visit you, and I sent my friend with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Didn't we have the same motives and do things the same way?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we're trying to defend ourselves to you? We speak as Christ's people in God's sight. Everything we do, dear friends, is for your benefit.

20 I'm afraid that I may come and find you different from what I want you to be, and that you may find me different from what you want me to be. I'm afraid that there may be rivalry, jealousy, hot tempers, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct.

21 I'm afraid that when I come to you again, my God may humble me. I may have to grieve over many who formerly led sinful lives and have not changed the way they think and act about the perversion, sexual sins, and promiscuity in which they have been involved.