2 Corinthians · Geneva Bible (1599)
2 Corinthians 12 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
1 It is not expedient for me no doubt to reioyce: for I will come to visions and reuelations of the Lord.
1 Καυχᾶσθαι δὴ οὐ συμφέρει μοι· ἐλεύσομαι γὰρ εἰς ὀπτασίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεις Κυρίου.
2 I know a man in Christ aboue fourteene yeeres agone, (whether he were in the body, I can not tell, or out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth) which was taken vp into the thirde heauen.
2 οἶδα ἄνθρωπον ἐν Χριστῷ πρὸ ἐτῶν δεκατεσσάρων· εἴτε ἐν σώματι οὐκ οἶδα, εἴτε ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματος οὐκ οἶδα, ὁ Θεὸς οἶδεν· ἁρπαγέντα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἕως τρίτου οὐρανοῦ.
3 And I knowe such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth)
3 καὶ οἶδα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἄνθρωπον· εἴτε ἐν σώματι εἴτε ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματος οὐκ οἶδα, ὁ Θεὸς οἶδεν·
4 How that he was taken vp into Paradise, and heard words which cannot be spoken, which are not possible for man to vtter.
4 ὅτι ἡρπάγη εἰς τὸν παράδεισον καὶ ἤκουσεν ἄρρητα ῥήματα, ἃ οὐκ ἐξὸν ἀνθρώπῳ λαλῆσαι.
5 Of such a man will I reioyce: of my selfe will I not reioyce, except it bee of mine infirmities.
5 ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοιούτου καυχήσομαι, ὑπὲρ δὲ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐ καυχήσομαι εἰ μὴ ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις μου.
6 For though I woulde reioyce, I should not be a foole, for I will say the trueth: but I refraine, lest any man should thinke of me aboue that hee seeth in me, or that he heareth of me.
6 ἐὰν γὰρ θελήσω καυχήσασθαι, οὐκ ἔσομαι ἄφρων· ἀλήθειαν γὰρ ἐρῶ· φείδομαι δὲ μή τις εἰς ἐμὲ λογίσηται ὑπὲρ ὃ βλέπει με ἢ ἀκούει τι ἐξ ἐμοῦ.
7 And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the aboundance of reuelations, there was giuen vnto me a pricke in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet mee, because I should not be exalted out of measure.
7 Καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί, ἄγγελος σατᾶν, ἵνα με κολαφίζῃ ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrise, that it might depart from me.
8 ὑπὲρ τούτου τρὶς τὸν Κύριον παρεκάλεσα ἵνα ἀποστῇ ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ·
9 And he said vnto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect through weakenesse. Very gladly therefore will I reioyce rather in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
9 καὶ εἴρηκέ μοι· ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου· ἡ γὰρ δύναμίς μου ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελειοῦται. ἥδιστα οὖν μᾶλλον καυχήσομαι ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις μου, ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproches, in necessities, in persecutions, in anguish for Christes sake: for when I am weake, then am I strong.
10 διὸ εὐδοκῶ ἐν ἀσθενείαις, ἐν ὕβρεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν διωγμοῖς, ἐν στενοχωρίαις, ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ· ὅταν γὰρ ἀσθενῶ, τότε δυνατός εἰμι.
11 I was a foole to boast my selfe: yee haue compelled mee: for I ought to haue bene commended of you: for in nothing was I inferiour vnto the very chiefe Apostles, though I bee nothing.
11 Γέγονα ἄφρων καυχώμενος! ὑμεῖς με ἠναγκάσατε. ἐγὼ γὰρ ὤφειλον ὑφ᾽ ὑμῶν συνίστασθαι· οὐδὲν γὰρ ὑστέρησα τῶν ὑπερλίαν ἀποστόλων, εἰ καὶ οὐδέν εἰμι.
12 The signes of an Apostle were wrought among you with all patience, with signes, and wonders, and great workes.
12 τὰ μὲν σημεῖα τοῦ ἀποστόλου κατειργάσθη ἐν ὑμῖν ἐν πάσῃ ὑπομονῇ, ἐν σημείοις καὶ τέρασι καὶ δυνάμεσι.
13 For what is it, wherein yee were inferiours vnto other Churches, except that I haue not bene slouthfull to your hinderance? forgiue me this wrong.
13 τί γάρ ἐστιν ὃ ἡττήθητε ὑπὲρ τὰς λοιπὰς ἐκκλησίας, εἰ μὴ ὅτι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ οὐ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν; χαρίσασθέ μοι τὴν ἀδικίαν ταύτην.
14 Behold, the thirde time I am ready to come vnto you, and yet will I not be slouthfull to your hinderance: for I seeke not yours, but you: for the children ought not to laye vp for the fathers, but the fathers for the children.
14 Ἰδοὺ τρίτον ἑτοίμως ἔχω ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ οὐ καταναρκήσω ὑμῶν· οὐ γὰρ ζητῶ τὰ ὑμῶν, ἀλλὰ ὑμᾶς. οὐ γὰρ ὀφείλει τὰ τέκνα τοῖς γονεῦσι θησαυρίζειν, ἀλλ᾽ οἱ γονεῖς τοῖς τέκνοις.
15 And I will most gladly bestow, and will be bestowed for your soules: though the more I loue you, the lesse I am loued.
15 ἐγὼ δὲ ἥδιστα δαπανήσω καὶ ἐκδαπανηθήσομαι ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν, εἰ καὶ περισσοτέρως ὑμᾶς ἀγαπῶν ἧττον ἀγαπῶμαι.
16 But bee it that I charged you not: yet for as much as I was craftie, I tooke you with guile.
16 Ἔστω δέ, ἐγὼ οὐ κατεβάρησα ὑμᾶς, ἀλλ᾽ ὑπάρχων πανοῦργος δόλῳ ὑμᾶς ἔλαβον.
17 Did I pill you by any of them whom I sent vnto you?
17 μή τινα ὧν ἀπέσταλκα πρὸς ὑμᾶς, δι᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐπλεονέκτησα ὑμᾶς;
18 I haue desired Titus, and with him I haue sent a brother: did Titus pill you of any thing? walked we not in the selfe same spirit? walked we not in the same steppes?
18 παρεκάλεσα Τίτον καὶ συναπέστειλα τὸν ἀδελφόν· μήτι ἐπλεονέκτησεν ὑμᾶς Τίτος; οὐ τῷ αὐτῷ πνεύματι περιεπατήσαμεν; οὐ τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἴχνεσι;
19 Againe, thinke yee that wee excuse our selues vnto you? we speake before God in Christ. But wee doe all thinges, dearely beloued, for your edifying.
19 Πάλιν δοκεῖτε ὅτι ὑμῖν ἀπολογούμεθα; κατενώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ λαλοῦμεν· τὰ δὲ πάντα, ἀγαπητοί, ὑπὲρ τῆς ὑμῶν οἰκοδομῆς.
20 For I feare least when I come, I shall not finde you such as I would: and that I shalbe found vnto you such as ye woulde not, and least there be strife, enuying, wrath, contentions, backebitings, whisperings, swellings and discord.
20 φοβοῦμαι γὰρ μήπως ἐλθὼν οὐχ οἵους θέλω εὕρω ὑμᾶς, κἀγὼ εὑρεθῶ ὑμῖν οἷον οὐ θέλετε, μήπως ἔρεις, ζῆλοι, θυμοί, ἐριθεῖαι, καταλαλιαί, ψιθυρισμοί, φυσιώσεις, ἀκαταστασίαι,
21 I feare least when I come againe, my God abase me among you, and I shall bewaile many of them which haue sinned already, and haue not repented of the vncleannesse, and fornication, and wantonnesse which they haue committed.
21 μὴ πάλιν ἐλθόντα με ταπεινώσῃ ὁ Θεός μου πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ πενθήσω πολλοὺς τῶν προημαρτηκότων καὶ μὴ μετανοησάντων ἐπὶ τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ καὶ πορνείᾳ καὶ ἀσελγείᾳ ᾗ ἔπραξαν.
Cross references (20)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Galatians 1:12; 2 Corinthians 12:7; 1 John 5:20; Acts 22:17–21; 1 Corinthians 10:23
- 2 Acts 22:17; Ezekiel 8:1–3; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 4:2; 2 Corinthians 11:11
- 4 Luke 23:43; Revelation 2:7; Ezekiel 31:9
- 5 2 Corinthians 11:30; 1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
- 6 2 Corinthians 11:16; 2 Corinthians 10:8–10; 2 Corinthians 11:31; 2 Corinthians 12:11; 2 Corinthians 12:7
- 7 Numbers 33:55; Judges 2:3; 2 Chronicles 32:25–26; Galatians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 5:5
- 8 Hebrews 5:7; Matthew 26:39–44; 1 Samuel 15:11; 2 Samuel 12:16–18; Psalm 77:2–11
- 9 Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Isaiah 40:29–31; Ephesians 3:16; Joshua 1:9
- 10 2 Corinthians 12:9; Ephesians 6:10; Romans 5:3; 2 Corinthians 13:4; James 1:2
- 11 2 Corinthians 11:5; 2 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Corinthians 15:8–10; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 3:22
- 12 Romans 15:18–19; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Corinthians 14:18; John 4:48; 1 Corinthians 9:1–2
- 13 1 Corinthians 9:6; 1 Corinthians 9:12; 2 Corinthians 11:7–9; 2 Corinthians 12:14; 1 Corinthians 9:15–18
- 14 Proverbs 19:14; Genesis 24:35–36; 1 Corinthians 10:33; Proverbs 13:22; Genesis 31:14–15
- 15 1 Thessalonians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 1:6; Philippians 2:17; Colossians 1:24; 2 Timothy 2:10
- 16 2 Corinthians 1:12; 2 Corinthians 7:2; 2 Corinthians 10:2–3; 2 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 11:9–10
- 17 1 Corinthians 16:10; 2 Kings 5:16; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 12:18; 2 Corinthians 9:5
- 18 2 Corinthians 8:6; Romans 4:12; 2 Corinthians 7:6; Philippians 2:19–22; 2 Corinthians 7:2
- 19 Romans 9:1; 1 Corinthians 14:26; 2 Corinthians 10:8; 1 Corinthians 10:14; Philippians 4:1
- 20 1 Peter 2:1; Galatians 5:19–21; Romans 1:29; 1 Corinthians 1:11; Jude 16
- 21 2 Corinthians 13:2; Colossians 3:5; 1 Corinthians 5:9–11; 1 Peter 4:2–3; Revelation 21:8
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
What is this? Doth he who has spoken such great things say, [It is not expedient] "doubtless to glory?" as if he had said nothing?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 12 (1889)
For that there are spiritual creatures in the heavens, all the Scriptures loudly proclaim; and Paul expressly testifies that there are spiritual things when he declares that he was caught up into the third heaven, and again, that he was carried away to paradise, and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
… ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God; and expressing not only his sorrow, but bitter lamentation over some who had formally sinned and had not repented of their uncleanness and fornications. If these emotions and affections, arising as they do from the love of what is …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… when in much danger and affliction, often besought God that the temptations might depart from him: nevertheless God regarded not his request, but his profit, and to signify this He said, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." So that before He hath told him the reason, He benefits him against his will, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For Peter was there, who carrieth the keys of heaven: and nothing wonderful, for Paul was there, who was caught up to the third heaven, and into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful far a man to utter.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)