1 †I must glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ, †I must glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; whether out of the body, I know not; :God knoweth), :such a one caught up even to the third heaven. 3 And I know :such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; :God knoweth), 4 how that he was caught up into :Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for man to speak. 5 On behalf of the such I will glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in :weaknesses. 6 For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak truth: but I forbear, lest anyone should account of me above what he seeth me to be, or heareth from me, 7 and by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations. Wherefore that I be not exalted overmuch, a thorn in the flesh was given me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I be not exalted overmuch. 8 Concerning this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said to me, My :grace is sufficient for thee: for the power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in :weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may spread a tabernacle over me. 10 Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the chiefest apostles, though I am nothing. 12 Indeed the signs of the apostle were wrought among you in all patience, both by signs and wonders and powers. 13 For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this :wrong. 14 Lo, this is the third time I am ready to come unto you; and I will not be a burden: for I seek not :yours, but you: for the children ought not to †lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will most gladly spend and be expended for your :souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved less? 16 But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I took you with guile. 17 Did I take advantage of you by any one of them whom I have sent unto you? 18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother along. Did Titus take advantage of you? walked we not in the same spirit? not in the same steps? 19 Ye think all the while that we are excusing ourselves to you. Before God speak we in Christ. But all the things, beloved, are for your :edifying. 20 For I fear, lest when I come, I somehow find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest somehow there be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, puffings up, tumults; 21 lest again when I come my :God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they wrought.
