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¹ Surely it is not expedient for me to boast: yet I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.² I knew a man in Christ, above fourteen years ago (whether in the body I know not, or out of the body I know not; God knoweth) such an one caught up to the third heaven.³ Yea, I knew such a man (whether in the body or out of the body, I know not, God knoweth) That he was caught up into paradise,⁴ and heard unspeakable things, which it is not possible for man to utter.⁵ Of such an one I will glory; but I will not glory of myself, unless in my infirmities.⁶ For if I should resolve to boast, I should not be a fool; for I speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any one should think of me above what he seeth me, or heareth from me.⁷ And lest I should be lifted up with the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet me, lest I should be lifted up.⁸ Concerning this, I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.⁹ But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may rest upon me.¹⁰ Therefore I am well pleased in weaknesses, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

¹¹ I am become a fool in boasting; but ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing have I fallen short of the very chief apostles, though I am nothing.¹² Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you, in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.¹³ For wherein were ye inferior to the other churches, unless that I myself was not burdensom to you.¹⁴ Forgive me this wrong. Behold the third time I am ready to come to you: yet I will not be burdensom to you; for I seek not yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the children.¹⁵ And I will most gladly spend, and be spent for your souls, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.¹⁶ But be it so: I did not burden you: but being crafty, I caught you with guile.¹⁷ Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent to you?¹⁸ I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? In the same steps?¹⁹ Think ye that we again excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all things, beloved, for your edification.²⁰ For I fear lest when I come, I should not find you such as I would, and lest I should be found by you such as ye would not: lest there should be contentions, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults, Lest my God should humble me when I come to you again,²¹ and I should mourn over many of them who had sinned before, and have not repented of the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, which they have committed.