Paul recounts experiencing visions and revelations from the Lord, mentioning a man caught up to paradise fourteen years prior. To prevent him from becoming conceited due to these great revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to him, and the Lord told him that His grace is sufficient. Paul notes that the signs, wonders, and miracles of a true apostle were performed among the Corinthians, whom he prepared to visit for a third time without being a financial burden. He defends his actions before God, explaining that his words are meant to build them up rather than merely offer a defense. Finally, Paul expresses concern that upon his arrival he may find unrepentant sin, quarreling, and disorder among them.
Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.
1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, 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 it I do not know, but God knows.3And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—4was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.5I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.6Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.11I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.12The marks of a true apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.13In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!14See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.15And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?16Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.17Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?18I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?19Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.20For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.21I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.
