1 I must boast; not that it is profitable, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know someone in Christ who, fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows), was caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I know that this person (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows)
4 was caught up into Paradise and heard ineffable things, which no one may utter.
5 About this person I will boast, but about myself I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.
6 Although if I should wish to boast, I would not be foolish, for I would be telling the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me
7 because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.
8 Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,
9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.
10 Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I have been foolish. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I am in no way inferior to these "superapostles," even though I am nothing.
12 The signs of an apostle were performed among you with all endurance, signs and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13 In what way were you less privileged than the rest of the churches, except that on my part I did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 Now I am ready to come to you this third time. And I will not be a burden, for I want not what is yours, but you. Children ought not to save for their parents, but parents for their children.
15 I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your sakes. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
16 But granted that I myself did not burden you, yet I was crafty and got the better of you by deceit.
17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those I sent to you?
18 I urged Titus to go and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? And in the same steps?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we are defending ourselves before you? In the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and all for building you up, beloved.
20 For I fear that when I come I may find you not such as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish; that there may be rivalry, jealousy, fury, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
21 I fear that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and licentiousness they 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.
Capítulos: