1 It is useless to boast; but if I have to, I will go on to some visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a certain Christian: fourteen years ago he was taken up to the third heaven.
3 Whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know, God knows. But I know that this man, whether in the body or out of the body - I do not know, God knows -
4 was taken up to Paradise where he heard words that cannot be told: things which humans cannot express.
5 Of that man I can indeed boast, but of myself I will not boast except of my weaknesses.
6 If I wanted to boast, it would not be foolish of me, for I would speak the truth.
7 However, I better give up lest somebody think more of me than what is seen in me or heard from me. Lest I become proud after so many and extraordinary revelations, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a true messenger of Satan, to slap me in the face.
8 Three times I prayed to the Lord that it leave me,
9 but he answered, "My grace is enough for you; my great strength is revealed in weakness." Gladly, then, will I boast of my weakness that the strength of Christ may be mine.
10 So I rejoice when I suffer infirmities, humiliations, want, persecutions: all for Christ! For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I have acted as a fool but you forced me. You should have been the ones commending me. Yet I do not feel outdone by those super-apostles,
12 even though I am nothing. All the signs of a true apostle are found in me: patience in all trials, signs, miracles and wonders.
13 Now, in what way were you not treated like the rest of the churches? Only in this: I was not a burden to you - forgive me for this offense!
14 For the third time I plan to visit you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I am not interested in what you have but only in you. Children should not have to collect money for their parents, but the parents for their children.
15 As for me, I am ready to spend whatever I have and even my whole self for all of you. If I love you so much, am I to be loved less?
16 Well, I was not a burden to you, but was it not a trick to deceive you? Tell me:
17 Did I take money from you through any of my messengers?
18 I asked Titus to go to you and I sent another brother with him. But did Titus take money from you? Have we not both acted in the same spirit?
19 Perhaps you think that we are again apologizing; but no: we speak in Christ and before God, and I do this for you, dear friends, to build you up.
20 I fear that if I go and see you, I might not find you as I would wish, and you in turn, might not find me to your liking. I might see rivalries, envy, grudges, disputes, slanders, gossip, conceit, disorder.
21 Let it not be that in coming again to you, God humble me because of you and I have to grieve over so many of you who live in sin, on seeing that they have not yet given up an impure way of living, their wicked conduct and the vices they formerly practiced.
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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