2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 12 ©

1 Paul sheweth that, though he had been favoured with visions and revelations, 5 yet for commendation of his apostleship he chose rather to glory in his infirmities: 11 blaming the Corinthians, who had seen in him all the signs of an apostle, for forcing him to such vain boasting. 14 He telleth them of his design of visiting them again with the same disinterestedness and fatherly affection as before. 16 He justifieth himself from any crafty extortion by his messengers; 20 and expresseth his fears, lest, both to his sorrow and theirs, he should find many notorious disorders still not repented of among them.

1

IT is not aexpedient for me doubtless to glory. 1I will come to bvisions and revelations of the Lord.

a 1Co. 6.12; 10.23. v.6,7,11.
b Nu. 12.6. Joel 2.28. Ga. 1.12; 2.2. Ac. 26.19.
2

cI knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one dcaught up to ethe third heaven.

c Ac. 9.3,4; 22.6,17; 26.16,19. Ro. 16.7. 1Co. 15.8. ch. 5.16,17.
d 1Th. 4.17. Re. 12.5.
e Ps. 148.4.
3

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4

How that he was caught up into fparadise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not 2lawful for a man to utter.

f Lu. 23.43. Re. 2.7.
5

Of such an one will I glory: gyet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

g ch. 11.30. v.9,10.
6

For hthough I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

h ch. 10.8; 11.16. 1Co. 3.5,9,10.
7

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the irevelations, there was given to me a jthorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

i v.1. Ga. 1.12.
j 2Ch. 32.25. Eze. 28.24. Job 2.6,7. Lu. 13.16. Ga. 4.14. ch. 10.10.
8

For this thing kI besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

k De. 3.23-27. Ps. 77.2-11. La. 3.8. Mat. 26.44.
9

And he said unto me, lMy grace is sufficient for thee: for mmy strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will nI rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

l 1Co. 10.13. Is. 40.29,30; 41.10,14.
m Phi. 4.13.
n v.5,10. ch. 11.30. 1Pe. 4.13,14.
10

oTherefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for pwhen I am weak, then am I strong.

o Ro. 5.3. ch. 1.4; 2.14; 4.8; 7.4. Ga. 6.14. Col. 1.24. 2Ti. 2.10. Ja. 1.2. 1Pe. 1.6,7; 4.13,14. Ac. 5.41. ch. 13.9. Mat. 5.12.
p v.9. 1Sa. 15.7. Mat. 5.3; 15.27,28. Ep. 3.16; 6.10. ch. 13.4.
11

qI am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for rin nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

q ch. 11.1,16,17,21,23.
r ch. 11.5. Ga. 2.6-9. 1Co. 15.9,10; 3.5,7; 4.7. Ep. 3.8. Lu. 17.10. ch. 3.1,5.
12

sTruly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

s Ro. 15.19. 1Co. 9.1,2. ch. 4.2; 6.4; 11.6. Ac. 19.11,12; 2.22.
13

tFor what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me uthis wrong.

t 1Co. 1.4,5; 9.12. ch. 8.7; 11.8,9. v.14,15.
u ch. 11.7.
14

Behold, vthe third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for wthe children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

v ch. 13.1,2; 1.15. 1Co. 4.19; 11.34; 16.5; 4.15; 10.33. Ac. 20.33. Phi. 4.17.
w 1Co. 4.14,15.
15

And xI will very gladly spend and be spent for 3you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

x Jn. 10.11. Phi. 2.17. 1Th. 2.8. ch. 1.6,12,13; 6.12. Col. 1.24. 2Ti. 2.10.
16

But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being ycrafty, I caught you with guile.

y Pr. 11.30. ch. 11.9. v.13.
17

zDid I make a gain of you aby any of them whom I sent unto you?

a ch. 9.5.
z 2Pe. 2.3. ch. 7.2,6; 2.12. 1Co. 16.10.
18

bI desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

b ch. 8.6,16,18,22; 7.2.
19

Again, think ye that we cexcuse ourselves unto you? we speak dbefore God in Christ: but we edo all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

c ch. 5.12; 3.1.
d ch. 11.10,31. Ro. 1.9; 9.1.
e 1Co. 9.12,23; 10.33; 14.26. ch. 5.12,13; 10.8; 13.10.
20

For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, fand that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

f ch. 1.23,24; 2.1; 10.2; 13.2,10. 1Co. 4.16,18,21.
21

And lest, when I come again, gmy God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and *lasciviousness which they have committed.

g ch. 2.1-4. Phi. 3.18,19. 1Co. 5.1,11. Ro. 13.13. Re. 2.21.