2 Corinthians · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
2 Corinthians 12 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
KJV King James Version (with Apocrypha)
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast, but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
1 Καυχᾶσθαι δὴ οὐ συμφέρει μοι· ἐλεύσομαι γὰρ εἰς ὀπτασίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεις Κυρίου.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows.
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 knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
3 I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),
3 καὶ οἶδα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἄνθρωπον· εἴτε ἐν σώματι εἴτε ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματος οὐκ οἶδα, ὁ Θεὸς οἶδεν·
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
4 ὅτι ἡρπάγη εἰς τὸν παράδεισον καὶ ἤκουσεν ἄρρητα ῥήματα, ἃ οὐκ ἐξὸν ἀνθρώπῳ λαλῆσαι.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
5 ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοιούτου καυχήσομαι, ὑπὲρ δὲ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐ καυχήσομαι εἰ μὴ ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις μου.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but [now] I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me [to be], or [that] he heareth of me.
6 For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me or hears from 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 above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
7 By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.
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 thrice, that it might depart from me.
8 Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
8 ὑπὲρ τούτου τρὶς τὸν Κύριον παρεκάλεσα ἵνα ἀποστῇ ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ·
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on 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 reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, 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 am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
11 I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am 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 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
12 τὰ μὲν σημεῖα τοῦ ἀποστόλου κατειργάσθη ἐν ὑμῖν ἐν πάσῃ ὑπομονῇ, ἐν σημείοις καὶ τέρασι καὶ δυνάμεσι.
13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except [it be] that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
13 For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive 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 third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
14 Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents 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 very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
15 ἐγὼ δὲ ἥδιστα δαπανήσω καὶ ἐκδαπανηθήσομαι ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν, εἰ καὶ περισσοτέρως ὑμᾶς ἀγαπῶν ἧττον ἀγαπῶμαι.
16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
16 Even so, I myself didn’t burden you. But you might say that being crafty, I caught you with deception.
16 Ἔστω δέ, ἐγὼ οὐ κατεβάρησα ὑμᾶς, ἀλλ᾽ ὑπάρχων πανοῦργος δόλῳ ὑμᾶς ἔλαβον.
17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
17 Did I take advantage of you by anyone of those whom I have sent to you?
17 μή τινα ὧν ἀπέσταλκα πρὸς ὑμᾶς, δι᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐπλεονέκτησα ὑμᾶς;
18 I desired Titus, and with [him] I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? [walked we] not in the same steps?
18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?
18 παρεκάλεσα Τίτον καὶ συναπέστειλα τὸν ἀδελφόν· μήτι ἐπλεονέκτησεν ὑμᾶς Τίτος; οὐ τῷ αὐτῷ πνεύματι περιεπατήσαμεν; οὐ τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἴχνεσι;
19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but [we do] all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
19 Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are 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 fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and [that] I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest [there be] debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that perhaps there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,
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 [And] lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and [that] I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
21 that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they 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)