Paul’s Vision and His Thorn in the Flesh

2 Corinthians 12

Boasting is necessary, and even though it’s not profitable, I will continue on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a human in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up into the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know—God knows. I know that this human—whether in the body, or apart of the body, I don’t know, God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not permitted to speak. On behalf of this person I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. For if I wanted to boast, I wouldn’t be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I refrain, so that no one will think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me, and because of the immeasurable greatness of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I would not exalt myself. I pleaded with the Lord three times about this, that it would leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

So then, I will gladly boast all the more in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

For Christ’s sake, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in troubles, in persecutions, and in tight squeezes. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul’s Past and Future Visits

I have become a fool—y’all forced me! For I should have been commended by y’all, since I am the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among y’all with all perseverance, through signs, wonders, and miracles. So how were y’all made inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden y’all? Forgive me for this wrong, y’all!

Look, I am ready to come to y’all a third time, and I will not be a burden, since I don’t want y’all’s possessions, but y’all. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will gladly spend and be spent for y’all’s souls. If I love y’all more, am I to be loved the less? Even so, I didn’t burden y’all. But by being sneaky, I took y’all in by deceit. Did I take advantage of y’all by anyone I sent to y’all? I exhorted Titus, and I sent the sibling with him. Titus didn’t take advantage of y’all, did he? Didn’t we walk in the same Spirit and the same footsteps?

Have y’all been thinking all this time that we are defending ourselves to y’all? We have been speaking in the sight of God in Christ, and everything, beloved, is for building y’all up. For I am afraid that when I come, I might not find y’all the way I want, and y’all might not find me as y’all want. Perhaps there will be infighting, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder, such that when I come again my God will humble me before y’all, and I will be grieved for many who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality and sensuality which they practiced.