Paul's
Vision And His Thorn
I
must go on Boasting.
Although
there is nothing to be gained,
I
will go on to Visions and Revelations from the Lord.
2 I
know a man in Christ
Who
fourteen years ago
Was
caught up to the Third Heaven.
Whether
it was in the body or out of the body
I
do not know—God knows.
3
And I know that this man--
Whether
in the body or apart from the body
I
do not know—but God knows--
WAS
CAUGHT UP TO PARADISE.
HE
HEARD INEXPRESSIBLE THINGS,
THINGS
THAT MAN IS NOT PERMITTED TO TELL.
5 I
will Boast about a man like that,
But
I will not Boast about myself,
Except
about my Weaknesses.
6
Even if I should choose to Boast,
I
would not be a Fool,
Because
I would be speaking the Truth.
But
I Refrain, so no one will think more of me
Than
is Warranted by what I do or say.
7
TO KEEP ME FROM BECOMING CONCEITED
BECAUSE
OF THOSE SURPASSINGLY GREAT REVELATIONS,
THERE
WAS GIVEN TO ME A THORN IN MY FLESH,
A
MESSENGER OF SATAN,
TO
TORMENT ME.
8
THREE TIMES I PLEADED WITH THE LORE
TO
TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME.
9
BUT HE SAID TO ME,
'MY
GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU,
FOR
MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.'
Therefore
I will Boast all the more gladly
About
my Weaknesses,
SO
THAT CHRIST'S POWER MAY REST ON ME.
10
THAT IS WHY, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE,
I
DELIGHT IN WEAKNESSES,
IN
INSULTS, IN HARDSHIPS,
IN
PERSECUTIONS, IN DIFFICULTIES.
FOR
WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG.
Paul's
Concern For The Corinthians
11
I HAVE MADE A FOOL OF MYSELF
BUT
YOU DROVE ME TO IT.
I
ought to have been Commended by you,
For
I am not in the least Inferior to the 'super apostles,'
Even
though I am nothing.
12
THE THINGS THAT MARK AN APOSTLE--
SIGNS,
WONDERS AND MIRACLES--
WERE
DONE AMONG YOU WITH GREAT PERSEVERANCE.
13
How were you Inferior to the other Churches,
Except
that I was never a burden to you?
FORGIVE
ME THIS WRONG!
14
Now I am ready to visit you for the Third time,
And
I will not be a burden to you,
WHAT
I WANT IS NOT YOUR POSSESSIONS BUT YOU.
After
all, Children should not have to save up for their Parents,
Bit
Parents for their Children.
15
SO I WILL VERY GLADLY SPEND FOR YOU
EVERYTHING
I HAVE
AND
EXPEND MYSELF AS WELL.
IF
I LOVE YOU MORE, WILL YOU LOVE ME LESS?
16
Be that as it may,
I
have not been a Burden to you.
YET,
CRAFTY FELLOW THAT I AM,
I
CAUGHT YOU BY TRICKERY!
17
Did I Exploit you through any of the men I sent you?
18
I urged Titus to go to you
And
I sent our brother with him.
Titus
did not Exploit you, did he?
Did
we not act in the same spirit
And
follow the same course?
19
Have you been thinking all along
That
we have been defending ourselves to you?
WE
HAVE BEEN SPEAKING IN THE SIGHT OF GOD
AS
THOSE IN CHRIST;
AND
EVERYTHING WE DO, DEAR FRIENDS,
IS
FOR YOUR STRENGTHENING.
20
For I am afraid that when I come
I
may not find you as I want you to be,
And
you may not find me as you want me to be.
I
FEAR THAT THERE MAY BE QUARRELING, JEALOUSY,
OUTBURSTS
OF ANGER, FACTIONS, SLANDER, GOSSIP,
ARROGANCE
AND DISORDER.
21
I am afraid that when I come again
My
God will humble me before you,
And
I will be Grieved over many who have Sinned earlier
AND
HAVE NOT REPENTED OF THE IMPURITY,
SEXUAL
SIN AND DEBAUCHERY
IN
WHICH THEY HAVE INDULGED.
(2
Corinthians 12)
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