1 ARST I need to say great things about myself.{ So,} although it is not helpful, I am moving on to{ speak about} how the Lord{ Jesus} specially shows things{ to specific people}. BSB BSB: I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
2 ARST Fourteen years ago, God took a certain Christian to the third{ level of} heaven. I am not sure whether{ God took him there} physically or in a dream or spiritually. Only God can be sure{ how it happened}. BSB BSB: 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 it I do not know, but God knows.
3 ARST Now{ I will tell you more about} that specific Christian.{ Again,} I am not sure whether{ God took him to the third level of heaven} physically or in a dream or spiritually. Only God can be sure{ how it happened}. BSB BSB: And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—
4 ARST God took that person into Paradise{, the place in heaven where dead believers are}. There, he heard amazing things that he cannot repeat to anyone. BSB BSB: was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.
5 ARST I could say great things about that{, since the person I have been talking about is me}. However, I will only say great things about how feeble I am. BSB BSB: I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
6 ARST In fact, suppose that I did want to say great things about myself. Since I am speaking truthfully, I would still not be acting foolishly. However, I decide not to{ say great things about myself}.{ That way,} people can only characterize me by what they observe me saying and doing. BSB BSB: Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,
8 ARST I asked the Lord{ Jesus} three different times to make me stop suffering in that way. BSB BSB: Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 ARST He responded by saying to me,“When I act kindly to you, that is all you need. In fact, I make people fully powerful when they are feeble.” Therefore, I will most happily say more great things about how feeble I am. That way, the Messiah will always enable me to act powerfully. BSB BSB: But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
10 ARST So then, I am happy{ when bad things happen to me} because{ I serve} the Messiah. This includes when I am feeble, when people say bad things about me, when people hurt me, when people persecute me, and when I struggle.{ I am happy} because{ God} empowers me when I am feeble. BSB BSB: That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 ARST I have been speaking foolishly, which is what you forced me to do.{ You forced me} because you should be saying that I am trustworthy,{ but you are not saying that}.{ You should be saying that} because I am just as great as any people who say that they represent the Messiah the best.{ That is true} even though I am not great at all. BSB BSB: I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
12 ARST I persevered in acting in the ways that prove to you that I really am one whom the Messiah sent to represent him. I did powerful and amazing things. BSB BSB: The marks of a true apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.
13 ARST Further, I did not treat you like you were less important than any other group of believers. The only way{ I acted differently with you} was that I did not bother you{ by asking you for money}. If that was actually wrong, please forgive me for doing it! BSB BSB: In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 ARST Pay attention! I am about to visit you for the third time. Yet again, I will not bother you{ by asking for money}.{ That is} because I want you{ to trust me and the Messiah}.{ I do not want} the things that you have. In fact, since I am like your parent, I should be saving money for you. Further, since you are like my children, you should not be saving money for me. BSB BSB: See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15 ARST I will most happily do and experience anything to help you. When I love you more{ than I did before}, you should not love me less{ than you did before}. BSB BSB: And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
16 ARST You can agree, then, that I personally did not bother you{ by asking for money}. However, perhaps I am a clever person.{ Maybe} I somehow tricked you into giving me{ money}. BSB BSB: Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
17 ARST { However,} I have not had anyone visit you who has acted for me by cheating you. BSB BSB: Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?
18 ARST { For example,} I asked Titus{ to visit you}, and I had a fellow believer go with him.{ You know that} Titus did not cheat you. He and I live the same way and do the same things. BSB BSB: I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
19 ARST You should know that the reason why we have said these things is not to explain to you that I and those who serve with me are trustworthy. Rather, as those whom God has united to the Messiah, we have been saying what pleases God. Of course,{ fellow believers} whom we love, we intend everything we say and do to help you grow. BSB BSB: Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
20 ARST { I have said these things} because I am concerned about{ what will happen} when I visit.{ I am concerned that} I will discover that you are not acting as I want{ you to act} and that you will discover that I am not acting as you want{ me to act}.{ I am concerned} that you may be fighting{ with each other}, being jealous{ of each other}, being angry{ with each other}, trying to control{ each other}, saying bad things{ about each other}, telling false stories{ about others}, saying great things about yourselves, or stirring up crowds{ against each other}. BSB BSB: For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
21 ARST { I am concerned} about{ what will happen} when I visit you this third time. God may make me ashamed about you. Further, I may feel very sad about many people who have previously done what is wrong and have not stopped having improper sex. BSB BSB: 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 their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.