2 Corinthians 12 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Paul’s Vision

12 (A)Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and (B)revelations [a]of the Lord. 2 I know a man (C)in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, (D)God knows—such a man was (E)caught up to the (F)third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, (G)God knows— 4 was (H)caught up into (I)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 (J)In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my (K)weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be (L)foolish, (M)for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

7 Because of the extraordinary greatness of the (N)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a (O)thorn in the flesh, a (P)messenger of Satan to [b]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord (Q)three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for (R)power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather (S)boast [c]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore (T)I delight in weaknesses, in [d]insults, in (U)distresses, in (V)persecutions, in (W)difficulties, (X)in behalf of Christ; for (Y)when I am weak, then I am strong.

11 I have become (Z)foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was (AA)in no respect inferior to the [e]most eminent apostles, even though (AB)I am a nobody. 12 The (AC)distinguishing marks [f]of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by [g]signs, wonders, and [h]miracles. 13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that (AD)I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me (AE)this wrong!

14 Here (AF)for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I (AG)will not be a burden to you; for I (AH)do not seek what is yours, but (AI)you; for (AJ)children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but (AK)parents for their children. 15 I will (AL)most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If (AM)I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But be that as it may, I (AN)did not burden you myself; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I (AO)took you in by deceit. 17 (AP)Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? 18 I (AQ)urged (AR)Titus to go, and I sent (AS)the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not [i]conduct ourselves [j]in the same (AT)spirit and walk (AU)in the same steps?

19 All this time [k]you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, (AV)it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and (AW)all for building you up, (AX)beloved. 20 For I am afraid that perhaps (AY)when I come I may find you to be not what I wish, and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be (AZ)strife, jealousy, (BA)angry tempers, (BB)selfishness, (BC)slanders, (BD)gossip, (BE)arrogance, (BF)disturbances; 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have (BG)sinned in the past and not repented of the (BH)impurity, sexual immorality, and indecent behavior which they have practiced.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:1 Or from
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:7 Lit beat
  3. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Lit in
  4. 2 Corinthians 12:10 Or mistreatment
  5. 2 Corinthians 12:11 Or super-apostles
  6. 2 Corinthians 12:12 Lit of the apostle
  7. 2 Corinthians 12:12 Or confirming miracles
  8. 2 Corinthians 12:12 Or works of power
  9. 2 Corinthians 12:18 Lit walk
  10. 2 Corinthians 12:18 Or by the same Spirit
  11. 2 Corinthians 12:19 Or have you been thinking...?

Cross references

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:1 : 2 Cor 11:16, 18, 30; 12:5, 9
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:1 : 1 Cor 14:6; 2 Cor 12:7; Gal 1:12; 2:2; Eph 3:3
  3. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : Rom 16:7
  4. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : 2 Cor 11:11
  5. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : Ezek 8:3; Acts 8:39; 2 Cor 12:4; 1 Thess 4:17; Rev 12:5
  6. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : Deut 10:14; Ps 148:4; Eph 4:10; Heb 4:14
  7. 2 Corinthians 12:3 : 2 Cor 11:11
  8. 2 Corinthians 12:4 : Ezek 8:3; Acts 8:39; 2 Cor 12:2; 1 Thess 4:17; Rev 12:5
  9. 2 Corinthians 12:4 : Luke 23:43
  10. 2 Corinthians 12:5 : 2 Cor 12:1
  11. 2 Corinthians 12:5 : 1 Cor 2:3; 2 Cor 12:9f
  12. 2 Corinthians 12:6 : 2 Cor 5:13; 11:16f; 12:11
  13. 2 Corinthians 12:6 : 2 Cor 7:14
  14. 2 Corinthians 12:7 : 2 Cor 12:1
  15. 2 Corinthians 12:7 : Num 33:55; Ezek 28:24; Hos 2:6
  16. 2 Corinthians 12:7 : Job 2:6; Matt 4:10; 1 Cor 5:5
  17. 2 Corinthians 12:8 : Matt 26:44
  18. 2 Corinthians 12:9 : 1 Cor 2:5; Eph 3:16; Phil 4:13
  19. 2 Corinthians 12:9 : 1 Cor 2:3; 2 Cor 12:5
  20. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : Rom 5:3; 8:35
  21. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2 Cor 6:4
  22. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2 Thess 1:4; 2 Tim 3:11
  23. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2 Cor 6:4
  24. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2 Cor 5:15, 20
  25. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2 Cor 13:4
  26. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : 2 Cor 5:13; 11:16f; 12:6
  27. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : 1 Cor 15:10; 2 Cor 11:5
  28. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : 1 Cor 3:7; 13:2; 15:9
  29. 2 Corinthians 12:12 : John 4:48; Rom 15:19; 1 Cor 9:1
  30. 2 Corinthians 12:13 : 1 Cor 9:12, 18; 2 Cor 11:9; 12:14
  31. 2 Corinthians 12:13 : 2 Cor 11:7
  32. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 2 Cor 1:15; 13:1, 2
  33. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 1 Cor 9:12, 18; 2 Cor 11:9; 12:13
  34. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 1 Cor 10:24, 33
  35. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 1 Cor 9:19
  36. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 1 Cor 4:14f; Gal 4:19
  37. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : Prov 19:14; Ezek 34:2
  38. 2 Corinthians 12:15 : Rom 9:3; 2 Cor 1:6; Phil 2:17; Col 1:24; 1 Thess 2:8; 2 Tim 2:10
  39. 2 Corinthians 12:15 : 2 Cor 11:11
  40. 2 Corinthians 12:16 : 2 Cor 11:9
  41. 2 Corinthians 12:16 : 2 Cor 11:20
  42. 2 Corinthians 12:17 : 2 Cor 9:5
  43. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : 2 Cor 8:6
  44. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : 2 Cor 2:13
  45. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : 2 Cor 8:18
  46. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : 1 Cor 4:21
  47. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : Rom 4:12
  48. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : Rom 9:1; 2 Cor 2:17
  49. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : Rom 14:19; 2 Cor 10:8; 1 Thess 5:11
  50. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : Heb 6:9
  51. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 1 Cor 4:21; 2 Cor 2:1-4
  52. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 1 Cor 1:11; 3:3
  53. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : Gal 5:20
  54. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : Rom 2:8; 1 Cor 11:19
  55. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : Rom 1:30; James 4:11; 1 Pet 2:1
  56. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : Rom 1:29
  57. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 1 Cor 4:6, 18; 5:2
  58. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 1 Cor 14:33
  59. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : 2 Cor 13:2
  60. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : 1 Cor 6:9, 18; Gal 5:19; Col 3:5

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