2Corinthians:12

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Seeker Overlay ON

* It is indeed not expedient for me to boast ; I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord . * I know a man in Christ , fourteen years ago ,––whether in the body , I know not , or whether out of the body , I know not ; God knoweth ,––such a one caught up even to the third heaven . * And I know such a man , whether in the body , or without the body , I know not ; God knoweth ,–– * that he was caught up into paradise , and heard unspeakable words , which it is not lawful for a man to utter . * Of such a one I will boast ; but of myself I will not boast , except in my infirmities . * For if I should desire to boast , I should not be a fool ; for I should say the truth ; but I forbear , lest any one should think of me above what he seeth me to be , or what he heareth from me . * And that I might not be too much lifted up by the abundance of the revelations , there was given to me a thorn in the flesh , a messenger of Satan , to buffet me , that I might not be too much lifted up . * In respect to this I besought the Lord thrice , that it might depart from me ; * 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 boast in my weaknesses , that the strength of Christ may abide upon me . * Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses , in reproaches , in necessities , in persecutions , in distresses in behalf of Christ ; for when I am weak , then am I strong . * I have become a fool ; it is ye that compelled me . For I ought to have been commended by you ; for in nothing was I behind the very foremost apostles , though I am nothing . * Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you with all endurance , by signs , and wonders , and mighty deeds . * For what is there in which ye were at disadvantage when compared with other churches , except that I myself was not a charge to you ? Forgive me this wrong . * Behold , I am ready to come to you this third time , and I will not be a charge 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 . * And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls ; though the more I love you , the less I am loved . * But be it so ; I at least was not a charge to you ; but yet , being crafty , I caught you with guile . * Did I make gain of you by any of those whom I have sent to you ? * I urged Titus to go to you , and with him I sent the brother . Did Titus make a gain of you ? Did we not walk in the same spirit ? Did we not walk in the same steps ? * Have ye been thinking this long time that we are defending ourselves to you ? It is before God in Christ that we are speaking ; but all things , beloved , for your edification . * For I fear , lest , when I come , I shall not find you such as I would , and lest I too shall be found by you such as ye would not ; lest there be wranglings , envying , wraths , rivalries , backbitings , whisperings , swellings , tumults ; * and lest , when I come again , my God will humble me among you , and that I shall bewail many of those who have sinned already , and did not repent of the uncleanness , and fornication , and lasciviousness , which they committed .

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