Suffering for Christ

22 Are they cHebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: din labors more abundant, ein stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, fin deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received gforty hstripes minus one. 25 Three times I was ibeaten with rods; jonce I was stoned; three times I kwas shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, lin perils of my own countrymen, min perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, nin sleeplessness often, oin hunger and thirst, in pfastings often, in cold and nakedness—28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: qmy deep concern for all the churches. 29 rWho is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

30 If I must boast, sI will boast in the things which concern my 4infirmity. 31 tThe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, uwho is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 vIn Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

The Vision of Paradise

12 It is 1doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to avisions and brevelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man cin Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one dwas caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—4 how he was caught up into eParadise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not fboast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

The Thorn in the Flesh

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a gthorn in the flesh was given to me, ha messenger of Satan to 2buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 iConcerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly jI will rather boast in my infirmities, kthat the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore lI take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. mFor when I am weak, then I am strong.

Signs of an Apostle

11 I have become na fool 3in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for oin nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though pI am nothing. 12 qTruly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and rwonders and mighty sdeeds. 13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Love for the Church

14 tNow for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for uI do not seek yours, but you. vFor the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent wfor your souls; though xthe more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

16 But be that as it may, yI did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus, and sent our zbrother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

19 aAgain, 4do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? bWe speak before God in Christ. cBut we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that dI shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God ewill humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many fwho have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, gfornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.