1 GLT It is necessary to boast.{ It is} not profitable, but I will go on to visions and revelations of 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 GLT I know a man in Christ— whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know, God knows— such a{ man} having been caught up to the third heaven 14 years ago. 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 GLT And I know that such a man— whether in 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 GLT that he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words which are not permitted for a man to speak. BSB BSB: was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.
5 GLT On behalf of such a{ man} I will boast. But on behalf of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. BSB BSB: I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
6 GLT For even if I desire to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain,{ so that} no one would think more of me than what he sees{ in} me or 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 GLT Three times I begged the Lord about this, that he would remove{ it} from me. BSB BSB: Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 GLT But he has said to me,“My grace is enough for you, for my power is being made perfect in weakness.” So I will most gladly boast even more in my weaknesses so that the power of Christ might reside upon 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 GLT Therefore, I take delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions and distresses for the sake of Christ; for whenever 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.
11 GLT I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. For I ought to be commended by you, for I lacked nothing of the“super- apostles,” even if 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 GLT Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with all endurance— both 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 GLT For what is{ the way} that you were{ treated} worse than the remaining churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this injustice! 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 GLT Behold! I am ready to come to you this third time, and I will not burden you. For I do not seek the things of yours, but you. For the children should not 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 GLT Now I will most gladly spend and be completely spent for the sake of your souls. If loving you more abundantly, am I to be 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 GLT But let it be{ so}, I myself did not burden you, but being crafty, I caught you by deceit. 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 GLT { There is} no one whom I have sent to you, that through him I took advantage of you, is there? BSB BSB: Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?
18 GLT I urged Titus{ to go} and sent the{ other} brother with{ him}. Unless Titus took advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit?{ Did we} not{ walk} in the same footsteps? 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 GLT Do you think all of this time that we are defending ourselves to you? Before God in Christ we are speaking. But all these things, beloved,{ are} for the sake of your building up. 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 GLT For I fear that somehow, having come, I might find you not such as I wish, and I might be found by you not such as you wish; that somehow{ there may be} quarreling, jealousy, ragings, rivalries, slanders, gossips, inflated egos,{ and} riots, 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 GLT that when I come again, my God might humble me before you, and I would mourn over many of the ones having sinned before and not having repented from the impurity and sexual immorality and debauchery that they did. 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.