1 If it is necessary (though certainly not expedient) to glory, then I will next tell of visions and revelations from the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ, who, more than fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows), was enraptured to the third heaven.
3 And I know a certain man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows),
4 who was enraptured into Paradise. And he heard words of mystery, which it is not permitted for man to speak.
5 On behalf of someone like this, I will glory. But on behalf of myself, I will not glory about anything, except my infirmities.
6 For even though I am willing to glory, I will not be foolish. But I will speak the truth. Yet I will do so sparingly, lest anyone may consider me to be anything more than what he sees in me, or anything more than what he hears from me.
7 And lest the greatness of the revelations should extol me, there was given to me a prodding in my flesh: an angel of Satan, who struck me repeatedly.
8 Because of this, three times I petitioned the Lord that it might be taken away from me.
9 And he said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness.” And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me.
10 Because of this, I am pleased in my infirmity: in reproaches, in difficulties, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful.
11 I have become foolish; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you. For I have been nothing less than those who claim to be above the measure of Apostles, even though I am nothing.
12 And the seal of my Apostleship has been set over you, with all patience, with signs and wonders and miracles.
13 For what is there that you have had which is less than the other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this injury.
14 Behold, this is the third time I have prepared to come to you, and yet I will not be a burden to you. For I am seeking not the things that are yours, but you yourselves. And neither should the children store up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 And so, very willingly, I will spend and exhaust myself for the sake of your souls, loving you more, while being loved less.
16 And so be it. I have not burdened you, but instead, being astute, I obtained you by guile.
17 And yet, did I defraud you by means of any of those whom I sent to you?
18 I asked for Titus, and I sent a brother with him. Did Titus defraud you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?
19 Have you ever thought that we should explain ourselves to you? We speak in the sight of God, in Christ. But all things, most beloved, are for your edification.
20 Yet I fear, lest perhaps, when I have arrived, I might not find you such as I would want, and I might be found by you, such as you would not want. For perhaps there may be among you: contention, envy, animosity, dissension, detraction, whispering, self-exaltation, and rebellion.
21 If so, then, when I have arrived, God may again humble me among you. And so, I mourn for the many who sinned beforehand, and did not repent, over the lust and fornication and homosexuality, which they have committed.
Versículos relacionados com 2 Corinthians, 12:
Chapter 12 of 2 Corinthians talks about Paul's supernatural experience of being brought to the third heaven and not to glory too much, he was tormented with a "thorn in the flesh." Moreover, Paul defends his apostolic authority and encourages Corinthians to repent and reconcile with God.
2 Corinthians 12:2-4: "I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago, has been taken up to the third heaven. If it was in the body or outside the body, I don't know, God knows it. And I know that this man-if if In body or outside, I do not know, but God knows it - "Paul speaks of his own supernatural experience of being brought to the third heaven, but it is not right if it was in body or spirit.
2 Corinthians 12:7: "To prevent me from exalting myself because of the greatness of these revelations, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me." Paul mentions his "thorn in the flesh," which is a source of great suffering, but God has allowed him to keep him humble.
2 Corinthians 12:9: "But he said to me," My grace is enough for you, for my power is perfect in weakness. "Therefore, I will gloring myself even more happily in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest in me." God responds to Paul by saying that his grace is enough to deal with his "thorn in the flesh," and that his power is perfected in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:10: "Therefore, for the sake of Christ, I rejoice in weaknesses, insults, needs, persecution, anguish. For when I am weak, I am strong." Paul says that instead of being discouraged by his weaknesses and difficulties, he rejoices in them because it is when the strength of Christ is more visible in his life.
2 Corinthians 12:19: "Do you think we have been justifying ourselves before you? Is it before God that we have spoken in Christ, and all we do, beloved friends, is to build them." Paul reaffirms his apostolic authority and his commitment to build the Church of Corinth in Christ.
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