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Paul's Vision

^1 (C1)Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and ^(C2)revelations ^(F1)of the Lord.² I know a 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, ^(C2)God knows—such a man was ^(C3)caught up to the ^(C4)third heaven.³ And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, ^(C1)God knows—⁴ was ^(C1)caught up into ^(C2)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.^5 (C1)In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my ^(C2)weaknesses.⁶ For if I do wish to boast I will not be ^(C1)foolish, ^(C2)for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

¹¹ I have become ^(C1)foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, since I was ^(C2)in no respect inferior to the ^(F1)most eminent apostles, even though ^(C3)I am a nobody.¹² The ^(C1)distinguishing marks ^(F1)of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by ^(F2)signs, wonders, and ^(F3)miracles.¹³ For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that ^(C1)I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me ^(C2)this wrong!

¹⁴ Here ^(C1)for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I ^(C2)will not be a burden to you; for I ^(C3)do not seek what is yours, but ^(C4)you; for ^(C5)children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but ^(C6)parents for their children.¹⁵ I will ^(C1)most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If ^(C2)I love you more, am I to be loved less?¹⁶ But be that as it may, I ^(C1)did not burden you myself; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I ^(C2)took you in by deceit.^17 (C1)Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?¹⁸ I ^(C1)urged ^(C2)Titus to go, and I sent ^(C3)the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not ^(F1)conduct ourselves ^(F2)in the same ^(C4)spirit and walk ^(C5)in the same steps?

¹⁹ All this time ^(F1)you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, ^(C1)it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and ^(C2)all for building you up, ^(C3)beloved.²⁰ For I am afraid that perhaps ^(C1)when I come I may find you to be not what I wish, and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be ^(C2)strife, jealousy, ^(C3)angry tempers, ^(C4)selfishness, ^(C5)slanders, ^(C6)gossip, ^(C7)arrogance, ^(C8)disturbances;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 indecent behavior which they have practiced.