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A Special Blessing in Paul’s Life12 1There is more that I have to say about myself. It won't help, but I will talk now about visionsa and revelations from the Lord. 2I know a manb in Christ who was taken up to the third heaven. This happened 14 years ago. I don't know if the man was in his body or out of his body, but God knows. 3-4And I know that this man was taken up to paradisec. I don't know if he was in his body or away from his body, but he heard things that he is not able to explain. He heard things that no one is allowed to tell. 5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself. I will boast only about my weaknesses.
6But if I wanted to say more about myself, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't say any more, because I don't want people to think more of me than what they see me do or hear me say.
7But I must not be too proud of the wonderful things that were shown to me. So a painful problemd was given to me - an angel from Satane, sent to make me suffer, so that I would not think that I am better than anyone else. 8I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. 9But the Lord said, "My gracef is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power." So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can stay in me. 10Yes, I am glad to have weaknesses if they are for Christ. I am glad to be insulted and have hard times. I am glad when I am persecutedg and have problems, because it is when I am weak that I am really strong.
Paul’s Love for the Believers in Corinth 11I have been talking like a fool, but you made me do it. You people are the ones who should say good things about me. I am worth nothing, but those "super apostlesh" are not worth any more than I am! 12When I was with you, I patiently did the things that prove I am an apostle - signsi, wondersj, and miraclesk. 13So you received everything that the other churchesl have received. Only one thing was different: I was not a burden to you. Forgive me for this!
14I am now ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don't want any of the things you own. I only want you. Children should not have to save things to give to their parents. Parents should save to give to their children. 15So I am happy to give everything I have for you. I will even give myself for you. If I love you more, will you love me less?
16It is clear that I was not a burden to you, but you think that I was tricky and used lies to catch you. 17Did I cheat you by using any of the men I sent to you? You know I didn't. 18I asked Titus to go to you, and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not cheat you, did he? No, you know that his actions and his attitude were the same as ours.
19Do you think that we have been defending ourselves to you all this time? No, we say these things in Christ and before God. You are our dear friends, and everything we do is to make you stronger. 20I do this because I am afraid that when I come, you will not be what I want you to be. And I am afraid that I will not be what you want me to be. I am afraid that I will find arguing, jealousy, anger, selfish fighting, evil talk, gossip, pride, and confusion there. 21I am afraid that when I come to you again, my God will make me humble before you. I may have to cry over the loss of some who sinned before. Many of them have still not changed their hearts to be sorry for their evil lives, their sexual sins, and the shameful things they have done.
avision Something like a dream used by God to speak to people.
b12:2 a man In 12:2-5 Paul is probably talking about himself.
cparadise A wonderful place of blessing, where God’s people go when they die.
d12:7 painful problem Literally, “thorn in the flesh.”
eSatan A name for the devil meaning “the enemy,” or “the accuser.”
fgrace The love and kindness that God shows in his complete willingness to give people favors he does not owe them and blessings they don’t deserve.
gpersecute To hurt, cause trouble for, or do bad things to someone, especially because of their beliefs.
hapostle A follower of Jesus chosen to represent him in a special way. During his earthly ministry, Jesus named twelve men as apostles. They had the specific responsibility and authority to represent him and proclaim his message throughout the world. Later, he appeared to Paul and gave him a similar commission, especially to non-Jewish people. Barnabas, Paul’s missionary companion, and James, the brother of Jesus, are also called apostles, as well as several others in the New Testament. Some of these occurrences of the word, however, have the more general sense of “messenger” or “representative.”
isign See “miraculous sign.”
jwonders Miracles that cause people to react with amazement and fear of God.
kmiracle An amazing act done by the power of God.
lchurch Literally, “assembly” or “community,” the people who have been brought together as God’s family through their common faith in Jesus Christ. The word often refers to a group of believers who meet together or who live in the same area, but it is also used to mean the worldwide community of all believers in Christ.
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