Add parallel Print Page Options

Should I desire to boast, I shall not be a witless braggart, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I abstain [from it] so that no one may form a higher estimate of me than [is justified by] what he sees in me or hears from me.

And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn ([a]a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted.(A)

Three times I called upon the Lord and besought [Him] about this and begged that it might depart from me;

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and [b]show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may [c]pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:7 James Moulton and George Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament.
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Two Greek texts so read.
  3. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.

Even if I should choose to boast,(A) I would not be a fool,(B) 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.(C) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,(D) a messenger of Satan,(E) to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.(F) But he said to me, “My grace(G) is sufficient for you, for my power(H) is made perfect in weakness.(I)(J) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Read full chapter