Dual Panel1IT may do no good, but I must go on with my boasting; I come now to visions and revelations granted by the Lord.
2I know a Christian man who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know -- God knows) was caught up as far as the third heaven.
3And I know that this same man (whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know -- God knows)
4was caught up into paradise, and heard words so secret that human lips may not repeat them.
5About such a man I am ready to boast; but I will not boast on my own account, except of my weaknesses.
6If I chose to boast, it would not be the boast of a fool, for I should be speaking the truth. But I refrain, because I do not want anyone to form an estimate of me which goes beyond the evidence of his own eyes and ears.
7To keep me from being unduly elated by the magnificence of such revelations, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan sent to buffet me; this was to save me from being unduly elated.
8Three times I begged the Lord to rid me of it,
9but his answer was: “My grace is all you need; power is most fully seen in weakness.” I am therefore happy to boast of my weaknesses, because then the power of Christ will rest upon me.
10So I am content with a life of weakness, insult, hardship, persecution, and distress, all for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul's final appeal
11I AM being very foolish, but it was you who drove me to it; my credentials should have come from you. In nothing did I prove inferior to those super-apostles, even if I am a nobody.
12The signs of an apostle were there in the work I did among you, marked by unfailing endurance, by signs, portents, and miracles.
13Is there any way in which you were treated worse than the other churches -- except this, that I was never a charge on you? Forgive me for being so unfair!
14I am now getting ready to pay you a third visit; and I am not going to be a charge on you. It is you I want, not your money; parents should make provision for their children, not children for their parents.
15I would gladly spend everything for you -- yes, and spend myself to the limit. If I love you overmuch, am I to be loved the less?
16All very well, you say; I did not myself prove a burden to you, but I did use a confidence trick to take you in.
17Was it one of the men I sent to you that I used to exploit you?
18I begged Titus to visit you, and I sent our friend with him. Did Titus exploit you? Have we not both been guided by the same Spirit, and followed the same course?
19Perhaps you have been thinking all this time that it is to you we are addressing our defence. No; we are speaking in God's sight, and as Christians. Our whole aim, dear friends, is to build you up.
20I fear that when I come I may find you different from what I wish, and you may find me to be what you do not wish. I fear I may find quarrelling and jealousy, angry tempers and personal rivalries, backbiting and gossip, arrogance and general disorder.
21I am afraid that when I come my God may humiliate me again in your presence, that I may have cause to grieve over many who were sinning before and have not repented of their unclean lives, their fornication and sensuality.