1: It is not
expedient for me doubtless to glory I will come to visions and revelations of
the Lord[1] 2:
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 knows such an one caught up
to the third heaven 3: And I knew such a man whether in the body or out
of the body I cannot tell God knows 4: How that he was caught up into
paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter 5:
Of such an one will I glory yet of myself I will not glory but in mine
infirmities 6: For though I would desire to glory I shall not be a fool
for I will speak the truth but now I forbear lest any should think of me above
that which they see me to be or that they hear of me 7: 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 8: For this thing I implored the Lord three times that it might depart
from me 9: 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 glory in
my weakness that the power of Christ may rest upon me 10: Therefore I
take pleasure in weakness in reproach in necessities in persecution in
distresses for Christ’s sake for when I am weak then am I strong 11: I
am become a fool in glorying you have compelled me for I ought to have been
commended by you[2]
for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles though I be nothing 12:
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience in signs
and wonders and mighty deeds 13: For what is it wherein you were
inferior to other churches except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you
forgive me this wrong 14: Behold the third time I am ready to come to
you and I will not be burdensome to you for I seek not [what is] yours but you
for the children ought not to lay up for the parents but the parents for the
children 15: And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you though
the more abundantly I love you the less I be loved 16: But be it so I
did not burden you nevertheless being crafty I caught you with guile 17:
Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you 18: 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 19: Again
think ye that we excuse ourselves to you we speak before God in Christ but we
do all things dearly beloved for your edifying 20: For I fear lest, when
I come I shall not find you such as I would [hope] and that I shall be found
unto you such as you would not lest there be debates envyings wraths strifes
backbitings whisperings swellings tumults 21: 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
[1]
Paul’s visions and revelations were all in line with what had already been
written Isaiah 8:19-b-20. The insight he received simply shed more
light on subjects that had already been alluded to or written about explicitly
in the Towrah (Law) and the precepts
(testimonies)—which were prophetic, and entirely about the person and
redemptive work of Jesus, the Messiah
Luke 24:27, Galatians 3:24, Hebrews 10:1 & 7, Revelation 19:10.
[2]
Paul not only gives his pedigree (albeit reluctantly), but also bluntly tells
the Corinthians that they should be the ones commending him, rather than him
reminding them of his credentials. He is battling for their souls against false
teachers.
Do you have the assurance
of knowing that if you died today, you have Eternal Life?
Additional
commentary pending for this chapter
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