1 It is necessary to boast;
2 I know a man in Christ fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or outside the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven,
3 and I know this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
4 that he was caught up to paradise and heard words not to be spoken, which
5 On behalf of such a person I will boast, but on behalf of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
6 For if I want to boast, I will not be foolish, because I will be telling the truth, but I am refraining, so that no one can credit to me more than what he sees
7 even because of the extraordinary degree of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, in order that it would torment me so that I would not exalt myself.
8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would depart from me.
9 And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because the
10 Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I have become a fool! You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for
12 Indeed, the signs of an apostle have been done among you with all patient endurance, both signs and wonders and deeds of power.
14 Behold, this third
15 But I will spend and be expended most gladly for your lives. If I love you much more, am I to be loved less?
16 But let
17 I have not taken advantage of you
18 I urged Titus
19 Have you been thinking all this time that we are defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and all
20 For I am afraid lest somehow