1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. 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 cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 That he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in my infirmities. 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 [what] he heareth from me. 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. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And 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 infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 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. 11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing am I behind the very greatest 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 what is that in which ye were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. 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. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. 16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, 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? walked we not in the same spirit? [walked we] not in the same steps? 19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves to you? we speak before God in Christ: but [we do] all things, dearly beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and [that] I shall be found by you such as ye would not: lest [there be] debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 21 [And] lest, when I come again, my God may humble me among you, and I shall bewail many who have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness, and lewdness, and lasciviousness, which they have committed.
2 Corinthians · Noah Webster's Bible (1833)
2 Corinthians 12 Noah Webster's Bible (1833)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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)