1
aBoasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and brevelations of the Lord.
2
I know a man ain Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, bGod knows--such a man was ccaught up to the dthird heaven.
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And I know how such a man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, aGod knows--
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was acaught up into bParadise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
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aOn behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my bweaknesses.
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For if I do wish to boast I will not be afoolish, bfor I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.
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Because of the surpassing greatness of the arevelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a bthorn in the flesh, a cmessenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself!
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Concerning this I implored the Lord athree times that it might leave me.
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And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for apower is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather bboast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
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Therefore aI am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with bdistresses, with cpersecutions, with bdifficulties, dfor Christ's sake; for ewhen I am weak, then I am strong.
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I have become afoolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for bin no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though cI am a nobody.
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The asigns of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
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For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that aI myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me bthis wrong!
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Here afor this third time I am ready to come to you, and I bwill not be a burden to you; for I cdo not seek what is yours, but dyou; for echildren are not responsible to save up for their parents, but fparents for their children.
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I will amost gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If bI love you more, am I to be loved less?
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But be that as it may, I adid not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I btook you in by deceit.
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aCertainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?
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I aurged bTitus to go, and I sent cthe brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same dspirit and walk ein the same steps?
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All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, ait is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and ball for your upbuilding, cbeloved.
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For I am afraid that perhaps awhen I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be bstrife, jealousy, cangry tempers, ddisputes, eslanders, fgossip,