Paul’s Revelation 1 CPDV If it is necessary (though certainly not expedient) to glory, then I will next tell of visions and revelations from the Lord. 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 CPDV I know a man in Christ, who, more than fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows), was enraptured to the third heaven. 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 CPDV And I know a certain man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows), BSB BSB: And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—
4 CPDV who was enraptured into Paradise. And he heard words of mystery, which it is not permitted for man to speak. BSB BSB: was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.
Paul’s Thorn and God’s Grace 5 CPDV On behalf of someone like this, I will glory. But on behalf of myself, I will not glory about anything, except my infirmities. BSB BSB: I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
6 CPDV For even though I am willing to glory, I will not be foolish. But I will speak the truth. Yet I will do so sparingly, lest anyone may consider me to be anything more than what he sees in me, or anything more than what he hears from me. 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 CPDV Because of this, three times I petitioned the Lord that it might be taken away from me. BSB BSB: Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 CPDV And he said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness.” And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me. 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 CPDV Because of this, I am pleased in my infirmity: in reproaches, in difficulties, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful. 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.
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians 11 CPDV I have become foolish; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you. For I have been nothing less than those who claim to be above the measure of Apostles, even though I am nothing. 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 CPDV And the seal of my Apostleship has been set over you, with all patience, with signs and wonders and miracles. BSB BSB: The marks of a true apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.
13 CPDV For what is there that you have had which is less than the other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this injury. 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 CPDV Behold, this is the third time I have prepared to come to you, and yet I will not be a burden to you. For I am seeking not the things that are yours, but you yourselves. And neither should the children store up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 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 CPDV And so, very willingly, I will spend and exhaust myself for the sake of your souls, loving you more, while being loved less. 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 CPDV And so be it. I have not burdened you, but instead, being astute, I obtained you by guile. 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 CPDV And yet, did I defraud you by means of any of those whom I sent to you? BSB BSB: Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?
18 CPDV I asked for Titus, and I sent a brother with him. Did Titus defraud you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps? 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 CPDV Have you ever thought that we should explain ourselves to you? We speak in the sight of God, in Christ. But all things, most beloved, are for your edification. 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 CPDV Yet I fear, lest perhaps, when I have arrived, I might not find you such as I would want, and I might be found by you, such as you would not want. For perhaps there may be among you: contention, envy, animosity, dissension, detraction, whispering, self-exaltation, and rebellion. 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 CPDV If so, then, when I have arrived, God may again humble me among you. And so, I mourn for the many who sinned beforehand, and did not repent, over the lust and fornication and homosexuality, which they have committed. 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.