1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.[ † ]Acts 16:9Acts 18:9Acts 22:17-18Acts 23:11Acts 26:13-15Acts 27:23Acts 9:3-61 Corinthians 14:62 Corinthians 12:7Galatians 1:12Galatians 2:2Ephesians 3:3-6 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.[ † ]Romans 16:7Galatians 1:22Acts 22:17 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.[ † ]Luke 23:43Revelation 2:7
5I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.[ † ]2 Corinthians 11:30 6Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,
7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.[ † ]Numbers 33:55Ezekiel 28:24Hosea 2:6Galatians 4:13-14Job 2:7Matthew 4:10Luke 13:161 Corinthians 5:5 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.[ † ]Deuteronomy 3:23Matthew 26:44 9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.[ † ]2 Corinthians 11:301 Peter 4:14 10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.[ † ]Romans 5:3Romans 8:352 Corinthians 13:4
11I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.[ † ]2 Corinthians 5:132 Corinthians 11:1-162 Corinthians 12:61 Corinthians 15:102 Corinthians 11:51 Corinthians 3:71 Corinthians 13:21 Corinthians 15:9 12The marks of a true apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.[ † ]Acts 14:3Romans 15:18Acts 15:12Acts 14:8-10Acts 16:16-18Acts 19:11-12Acts 20:6-12Acts 28:1-10 13In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.[ † ]2 Corinthians 1:152 Corinthians 13:1-2Acts 20:331 Corinthians 10:24-331 Corinthians 4:14Galatians 4:19 15And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?[ † ]John 10:11Romans 9:32 Corinthians 1:6Philippians 2:17Colossians 1:241 Thessalonians 2:82 Timothy 2:102 Corinthians 6:12-13
16Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.[ † ]2 Corinthians 11:9 17Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you? 18I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?[ † ]2 Corinthians 8:18
19Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.[ † ]2 Corinthians 5:12Romans 9:1-22 Corinthians 11:311 Corinthians 10:33 20For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.[ † ]1 Corinthians 4:212 Corinthians 13:2-10 21I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.[ † ]2 Corinthians 2:1-42 Corinthians 13:21 Corinthians 5:1