2 Corinthians 12 (NIV) (2024)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12I must go on boasting.^(A) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations^(B) from the Lord. ²I know a man in Christ^(C) who fourteen years ago was caught up^(D) to the third heaven.^(E) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.^{(F) 3}And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— ⁴was caught up^(G) to paradise^(H) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. ⁵I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.^{(I) 6}Even if I should choose to boast,^(J) I would not be a fool,^(K) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷or because of these surpassingly great revelations.^(L) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(M) a messenger of Satan,^(N) to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.^{(O) 9}But he said to me, “My grace^(P) is sufficient for you, for my power^(Q) is made perfect in weakness.^(R)”^(S) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight^(T) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(U) in persecutions,^(V) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(W)

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

¹¹I have made a fool of myself,^(X) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”^[a](Y) even though I am nothing.^{(Z) 12}I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.^{(AA) 13}How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?^(AB) Forgive me this wrong!^(AC)

¹⁴Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,^(AD) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,^(AE) but parents for their children.^{(AF) 15}So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.^(AG) If I love you more,^(AH) will you love me less? ¹⁶Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.^(AI) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! ¹⁷Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? ¹⁸I urged^(AJ) Titus^(AK) to go to you and I sent our brother^(AL) with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

¹⁹Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God^(AM) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,^(AN) is for your strengthening.^{(AO) 20}For I am afraid that when I come^(AP) I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be.^(AQ) I fear that there may be discord,^(AR) jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,^(AS) slander,^(AT) gossip,^(AU) arrogance^(AV) and disorder.^{(AW) 21}I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved^(AX) over many who have sinned earlier^(AY) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery^(AZ) in which they have indulged.

Footnotes

1. 2 Corinthians 12:11 Or the most eminent apostles

Cross references

1. 2 Corinthians 12:1 : ver 5, 9; 2Co 11:16, 30
2. 2 Corinthians 12:1 : ver 7; S 1Co 2:10
3. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : S Ro 16:3
4. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : ver 4; S Ac 8:39
5. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : Eph 4:10
6. 2 Corinthians 12:2 : 2Co 11:11
7. 2 Corinthians 12:4 : ver 2
8. 2 Corinthians 12:4 : Lk 23:43; Rev 2:7
9. 2 Corinthians 12:5 : ver 9, 10; S 1Co 2:3
10. 2 Corinthians 12:6 : 2Co 10:8
11. 2 Corinthians 12:6 : ver 11; 2Co 11:16
12. 2 Corinthians 12:7 : ver 1; S 1Co 2:10
13. 2 Corinthians 12:7 : Nu 33:55
14. 2 Corinthians 12:7 : S Mt 4:10
15. 2 Corinthians 12:8 : Mt 26:39, 44
16. 2 Corinthians 12:9 : S Ro 3:24
17. 2 Corinthians 12:9 : S Php 4:13
18. 2 Corinthians 12:9 : S 1Co 2:3
19. 2 Corinthians 12:9 : 1Ki 19:12
20. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : S Mt 5:12
21. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2Co 6:4
22. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2Th 1:4
23. 2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2Co 13:4
24. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : 2Co 11:1
25. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : 2Co 11:5
26. 2 Corinthians 12:11 : 1Co 15:9, 10
27. 2 Corinthians 12:12 : S Jn 4:48
28. 2 Corinthians 12:13 : ver 14; 1Co 9:12, 18
29. 2 Corinthians 12:13 : 2Co 11:7
30. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 2Co 13:1
31. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : 1Co 4:14, 15
32. 2 Corinthians 12:14 : Pr 19:14
33. 2 Corinthians 12:15 : Php 2:17; 1Th 2:8
34. 2 Corinthians 12:15 : 2Co 11:11
35. 2 Corinthians 12:16 : 2Co 11:9
36. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : 2Co 8:6, 16
37. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : S 2Co 2:13
38. 2 Corinthians 12:18 : 2Co 8:18
39. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : Ro 9:1
40. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : S 1Co 10:14
41. 2 Corinthians 12:19 : S Ro 14:19; 2Co 10:8
42. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 2Co 2:1-4
43. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 1Co 4:21
44. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 1Co 1:11; 3:3
45. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : Gal 5:20
46. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : Ro 1:30
47. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : S Ro 1:29
48. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 1Co 4:18
49. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : 1Co 14:33
50. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : 2Co 2:1, 4
51. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : 2Co 13:2
52. 2 Corinthians 12:21 : S 1Co 6:18

Footnotes

1. 2 Corinthians 12:3 cf. Ezek. 8:3.
2. 2 Corinthians 12:7 Cf. Num. 33:55; Job 2:6.
3. 2 Corinthians 12:19 Some mss. say Do you think all along that we are defending ourselves to you?