Books

2 Corinthians 12

Holman Christian Standard Bible, 2009 (HCSB)

Back to Bible

Switch Version:

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

¹ Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions ⓐ and revelations ⓑ of the Lord.

² I know a man in Christ who was caught up ⓒ into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know, God knows.

³ I know that this man — whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know, God knows —

⁴ was caught up into paradise. ⓓ He heard inexpressible words, which a man is not allowed to speak.

⁵ I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

⁶ For if I want to boast, I will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth. ⓔ But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me,

⁷ especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh ⓕ was given to me, a messenger [1] of Satan ⓖ to torment me so I would not exalt myself.

⁸ Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me.

⁹ But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power [2] ⓗ is perfected in weakness.” ⓘ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

¹⁰ So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. ⓙ For when I am weak, then I am strong. ⓚ

¹¹ I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I should have been endorsed by you, since I am not in any way inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. ⓛ

¹² The signs ⓜ of an apostle ⓝ were performed with great endurance among you — not only signs but also wonders ⓞ and miracles. ⓟ

¹³ So in what way were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

¹⁴ Now I am ready to come to you this third time. ⓠ I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

¹⁵ I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. [3] ⓡ If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

¹⁶ Now granted, I have not burdened ⓢ you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit! ⓣ

¹⁷ Did I take advantage of you by anyone I sent you?

¹⁸ I urged Titus ⓤ to come, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit ⓥ and in the same footsteps?

¹⁹ You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you. [4] No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up. ⓦ

²⁰ For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and I may not be found by you to be what you want; [5] there may be quarreling, ⓧ jealousy, ⓨ outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, ⓩ slander, ⓐ gossip, arrogance, and disorder. ⓑ

²¹ I fear that when I come my God will again [6] humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented ⓒ of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, ⓓ and promiscuity ⓔ they practiced.

#	HCSB
1	Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions ⓐ and revelations ⓑ of the Lord.
2	I know a man in Christ who was caught up ⓒ into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know, God knows.
3	I know that this man — whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know, God knows —
4	was caught up into paradise. ⓓ He heard inexpressible words, which a man is not allowed to speak.
5	I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.
6	For if I want to boast, I will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth. ⓔ But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me,
7	especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh ⓕ was given to me, a messenger [1] of Satan ⓖ to torment me so I would not exalt myself.
8	Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me.
9	But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power [2] ⓗ is perfected in weakness.” ⓘ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
10	So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. ⓙ For when I am weak, then I am strong. ⓚ
11	I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I should have been endorsed by you, since I am not in any way inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. ⓛ
12	The signs ⓜ of an apostle ⓝ were performed with great endurance among you — not only signs but also wonders ⓞ and miracles. ⓟ
13	So in what way were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
14	Now I am ready to come to you this third time. ⓠ I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15	I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. [3] ⓡ If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
16	Now granted, I have not burdened ⓢ you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit! ⓣ
17	Did I take advantage of you by anyone I sent you?
18	I urged Titus ⓤ to come, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit ⓥ and in the same footsteps?
19	You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you. [4] No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up. ⓦ
20	For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and I may not be found by you to be what you want; [5] there may be quarreling, ⓧ jealousy, ⓨ outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, ⓩ slander, ⓐ gossip, arrogance, and disorder. ⓑ
21	I fear that when I come my God will again [6] humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented ⓒ of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, ⓓ and promiscuity ⓔ they practiced.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Holy Bible

2 Corinthians 12

Select Commentary