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Paul's Vision

¹ It is necessary to ^(C1)boast, though nothing is gained by it; but I will go on to visions and ^(C2)revelations of the Lord.² I know a ^(F1)man ^(C1)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, only ^(C2)God knows—such a man was ^(C3)caught up to the ^(F2)(C4)third heaven. ^(VR1)3 And I know that such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, only ^(C1)God knows—⁴ was ^(C1)caught up into ^(F1)(C2)Paradise and heard inexpressible words which man is not permitted to speak words too sacred to tell.^5 (C1)On behalf of such a man and his experiences I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my ^(C2)weaknesses.⁶ If I wish to boast, I will not be ^(C1)foolish, ^(C2)because I will be speaking the truth. But I abstain from it, so that no one will credit me with more than is justified by what he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

¹¹ Now I have become ^(C1)foolish; you have forced me by questioning my apostleship. Actually I should have been commended by you instead of being treated disdainfully, for ^(C2)I was not inferior to those ^(F1)super-apostles, even if ^(C3)I am nobody.¹² The ^(C1)signs that indicate a genuine apostle were performed among you fully and most patiently—signs and wonders and miracles.¹³ For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except for the fact that ^(C1)I did not burden you with my financial support? Forgive me for doing you ^(C2)this injustice!

¹⁴ Now ^(C1)for the third time I am ready to visit you. I ^(C2)will not burden you financially, because I ^(C3)do not want what is yours not your money or your possessions, but ^(C4)you. For ^(C5)children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but ^(C6)parents for their children.¹⁵ But I will ^(C1)very gladly spend my own resources and be utterly spent for your souls. If ^(C2)I love you greatly, am I to be loved less by you?¹⁶ But be that as it may, I ^(C1)did not burden you with my support. But some say that I was sly and ^(C2)took you by trickery.^17 (C1)Did I take advantage of you or make any money off you through any of the messengers I sent you? Certainly not!¹⁸ I ^(C1)urged ^(C2)Titus to go, and I sent ^(C3)the brother with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? No! Did we not conduct ourselves in the same ^(C4)spirit and walk ^(C5)in the same steps? Of course!

¹⁹ All this time you have been thinking that we are merely defending ourselves to you. ^(C1)It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking as one in Christ; and ^(C2)everything, ^(C3)dearly beloved, is to strengthen you spiritually.²⁰ For I am afraid that perhaps ^(C1)when I come I may find you not to be as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be ^(C2)strife, jealousy, ^(C3)angry tempers, ^(C4)disputes, ^(C5)slander, ^(C6)gossip, ^(C7)arrogance and ^(C8)disorder;²¹ I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have ^(C1)sinned in the past and not repented of the ^(C2)impurity, sexual immorality and decadence which they formerly practiced.