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1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
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2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
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3 And I know how such a man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows--
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4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
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5 On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to I my weaknesses.
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6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain I from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees I in me or hears from me.
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7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself!
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8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
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9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
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10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
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11 I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.
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12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
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13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
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14 Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for I their parents, but parents for I their children.
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15 I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
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16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit.
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17 I Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?
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18 I urged Titus I to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit I and walk in the same steps?
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19 All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. I Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
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20 For I am afraid that perhaps when 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 I there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;
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21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.
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Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1988, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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