2Corinthians:12
Seeker Overlay ON
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It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory .
I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord .
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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 .
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And I knew such a man , (
whether in the body ,
or out of the body ,
I cannot tell :
God knoweth ;)
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How that he was caught up into paradise ,
and heard unspeakable words ,
which it is not lawful for a man to utter .
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Of such an one will I glory :
yet of myself I will not glory ,
but in mine infirmities .
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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 .
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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 .
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For this thing I besought the Lord thrice ,
that it might depart from me .
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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 .
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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 .
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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 .
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Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience ,
in signs ,
and wonders ,
and mighty deeds .
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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 .
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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 .
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And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you ;
though the more abundantly I love you ,
the less I be loved .
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But be it so ,
I did not burden you :
nevertheless ,
being crafty ,
I caught you with guile .
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Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you ?
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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 ?
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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 .
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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 :
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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 .