Visions, and a thorn in the flesh
1I must boast. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know; God knows — was caught up to the third heaven. 3And I know that this man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know; God knows — 4was caught up into paradise and heard words beyond speech, which no one is permitted to utter. 5Of such a man I will boast; of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. 6If I did want to boast, I would be no fool, for I would be telling the truth. But I hold back, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me, 7and because of the sheer greatness of these revelations. So, to keep me from being carried away, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to batter me — to keep me, I say, from exalting myself. 8Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9and he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for power comes to its fullness in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of the Christ may rest upon me. 10That is why I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with hardships, with persecutions and distresses for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
The signs of an apostle
11I have become a fool; you forced me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for in no way am I inferior to those super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12The signs of an apostle were performed among you with all endurance — signs and wonders and works of power. 13In what way were you worse off than the other churches, except that I myself was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! 14Look, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden; I am not after what is yours but you. Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15I will most gladly spend, and be spent, for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less? 16Be that as it may, I was no burden to you. But, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by a trick! 17Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? 18I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus exploit you? Did we not walk in the same spirit, in the same footsteps?
What Paul fears he will find
19All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. We speak before God, in Christ; and all of it, dear friends, is for building you up. 20For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want to find you, and that you may not find me as you want to find me: that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, disorder. 21I am afraid that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and that I may have to grieve over many who sinned before and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and shamelessness they practiced.
