1I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. (加1:12; 加2:2; 弗3:3)2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. (诗148:4; 结8:3; 徒8:39; 林后5:17; 林后11:11; 林后12:3; 帖前4:17; 启12:5)3And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— (创2:8; 路23:43; 林后12:2; 启2:7)4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— (林前2:3)6though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. (林后5:13; 林后11:16; 林后12:11)7So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,[1] a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (民33:55; 结28:24; 路13:16; 林前5:5; 林后10:10)8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. (太26:44)9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (赛40:29; 赛43:2; 林前2:5; 腓4:13)10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (太5:11; 羅5:3; 林后5:15; 林后13:4)
Concern for the Corinthian Church
11I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. (林前3:7; 林前15:9; 林前15:10; 林后11:5; 林后12:6)12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. (羅15:19; 林前9:1; 林后6:4)13For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! (徒20:33; 林前9:12)14Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. (箴19:14; 结34:2; 林前4:14; 林前10:24; 林前10:33; 林后1:15; 林后13:1; 林后13:2)15I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? (林后1:6; 林后6:11; 腓2:17; 西1:24; 帖前2:8; 提后2:10)16But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. (林后11:9)17Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? (林后9:5)18I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps? (林后8:6; 林后8:18)19Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. (羅1:9; 羅9:1; 林前14:26)20For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. (林前4:21; 林后2:1)21I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced. (林前5:1; 林前6:18; 林后13:2; 启2:21)