Add parallel Print Page Options

12 It is necessary dei for me to continue boasting kauchaomai. Though men it is not ou profitable sympherō, I will go on erchomai · de to eis visions optasia and kai revelations apokalypsis from the Lord kyrios. I know oida a man anthrōpos in en Christ Christos who fourteen dekatessares years etos ago pro whether eite in en the body sōma I do not ou know oida or eite apart from ektos the ho body sōma I do not ou know oida, only ho God theos knows oida such a man toioutos was caught up harpazō · ho to heōs the third tritos heaven ouranos. And kai I know oida that · ho this toioutos man anthrōpos whether eite in en the body sōma or eite apart chōris from the ho body sōma I do not ou know oida, only ho God theos knows oida that hoti he was caught up harpazō into eis · ho paradise paradeisos and kai heard akouō unspeakable arrētos words rhēma which hos are not ou permitted for a man anthrōpos to utter laleō. On behalf of hyper · ho this man toioutos I will boast kauchaomai, but de on my own emautou behalf hyper I will not ou boast kauchaomai, except ei mē in en my ho weakness astheneia. For gar even if ean I should choose thelō to boast kauchaomai, I would not ou be eimi foolish aphrōn, because gar I would be telling legō the truth alētheia. But de I refrain from pheidomai this, so that no one tis will give credit logizomai to eis me egō beyond hyper what hos he sees blepō in me egō or ē he hears akouō from ek me egō, especially kai because of the ho extraordinary hyperbolē character of my ho revelations apokalypsis. Therefore dio in order that hina I should not become conceited hyperairō, there was given didōmi to me egō a thorn skolops in the ho flesh sarx, a messenger angelos of Satan Satanas to hina torment kolaphizō me egō, that hina I should not become conceited hyperairō. Three times tris I pleaded with parakaleō the ho Lord kyrios about hyper this houtos, that hina it would leave aphistēmi me egō. But kai he said legō to me egō, “ My egō grace charis is sufficient arkeō for you sy, · ho for gar my ho power dynamis is fulfilled teleō in en weakness astheneia.” Therefore oun I will most mallon gladly hēdeōs boast kauchaomai in en · ho my egō weaknesses astheneia, in order that hina the ho power dynamis of ho Christ Christos may dwell episkēnoō in epi me egō. 10 For this reason dio I am content eudokeō with en weaknesses astheneia, with en insults hybris, with en hardships anankē, with en persecutions diōgmos and kai difficulties stenochōria for the sake hyper of Christ Christos; for gar whenever hotan I am weak astheneō, then tote I am eimi strong dynatos.

11 I am acting like ginomai a fool aphrōn, but you hymeis drove anankazō me egō to it. I egō ought opheilō to be commended synistēmi by hypo you hymeis, for gar in no way oudeis am I inferior hystereō to the ho super-apostles hyperlian apostolos”— even kai though ei I am eimi nothing oudeis. 12 The ho marks sēmeion of ho an apostle apostolos were done katergazomai among en you hymeis with en all pas persistence hypomonē, along with te signs sēmeion and kai wonders teras and kai powerful dynamis deeds . 13 For gar in what tis way were eimi you less favored than hyper the ho rest loipos of the churches ekklēsia, except ei mē that hoti I egō myself autos was not ou a burden katanarkaō to you hymeis? Forgive charizomai me egō · ho this houtos injustice adikia! 14 Look idou, for the houtos third triton time I am echō ready hetoimōs to come erchomai to pros you hymeis, and kai I will not ou be a burden katanarkaō, because gar I am not ou seeking zēteō what ho you hymeis have , but alla you hymeis. For gar children teknon ought opheilō not ou · ho save up thēsaurizō for their ho parents goneus, but alla the ho parents goneus for the ho children teknon. 15 I egō · de will most gladly hēdeōs spend dapanaō and kai be spent ekdapanaō on behalf hyper of · ho your hymeis souls psychē. If ei I love agapaō you hymeis more perissoterōs, am I to be loved agapaō less hēssōn? 16 But de be that as it may eimi, I egō did not ou burden katabareō you hymeis; yet alla being hyparchō crafty panourgos, I took lambanō you hymeis in lambanō by deceit dolos! 17 I did pleonekteō not take advantage of pleonekteō you hymeis through dia anyone tis I sent apostellō to pros you hymeis, did I? 18 I urged parakaleō Titus Titos to visit you and kai I sent synapostellō the ho brother adelphos with him. Titus Titos did not mēti take advantage pleonekteō of you hymeis, did he? Did we peripateō not ou conduct ourselves peripateō in the ho same autos spirit pneuma? Did we ichnos not ou behave ichnos in the ho same autos way ?

19 Have you been thinking dokeō all along palai that hoti we are defending ourselves apologeomai to you hymeis? We are speaking laleō before katenanti God theos as those in en Christ Christos; · ho and de all pas that we do, dear friends agapētos, is for hyper · ho your hymeis upbuilding oikodomē. 20 For gar I am afraid phobeomai that perhaps mē pōs when I come erchomai I may find heuriskō you hymeis not ou as hoios I would wish thelō, and that I kagō may be found heuriskō by you hymeis not ou as hoios you would wish thelō; perhaps mē pōs there will be strife eris, jealousy zēlos, flaring anger thumos, selfish ambition eritheia, backbiting katalalia, gossiping psithurismos, conceit physiōsis, disorder akatastasia. 21 I am afraid that when erchomai I egō come erchomai, my egō God theos may again palin humble tapeinoō me egō · ho before pros you hymeis, and kai that I will mourn pentheō for many polys who ho have sinned earlier proamartanō and kai have not repented metanoeō of epi the ho impurity akatharsia, · kai sexual porneia immorality , and kai debauchery aselgeia in which hos they indulged prassō.

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting.(A) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations(B) from the Lord. I know a man in Christ(C) who fourteen years ago was caught up(D) to the third heaven.(E) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.(F) And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up(G) to paradise(H) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.(I) Even if I should choose to boast,(J) I would not be a fool,(K) 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, or because of these surpassingly great revelations.(L) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,(M) a messenger of Satan,(N) to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.(O) But he said to me, “My grace(P) is sufficient for you, for my power(Q) is made perfect in weakness.(R)(S) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight(T) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,(U) in persecutions,(V) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(W)

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

11 I have made a fool of myself,(X) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”[a](Y) even though I am nothing.(Z) 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.(AA) 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?(AB) Forgive me this wrong!(AC)

14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,(AD) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,(AE) but parents for their children.(AF) 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.(AG) If I love you more,(AH) will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.(AI) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18 I urged(AJ) Titus(AK) to go to you and I sent our brother(AL) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God(AM) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,(AN) is for your strengthening.(AO) 20 For I am afraid that when I come(AP) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.(AQ) I fear that there may be discord,(AR) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,(AS) slander,(AT) gossip,(AU) arrogance(AV) and disorder.(AW) 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved(AX) over many who have sinned earlier(AY) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery(AZ) in which they have indulged.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:11 Or the most eminent apostles