2 Corinthians 12 Expanded Bible (EXB) A Special Blessing in Paul’s Life 12 I must continue to ·brag [boast]. It will do no good, but I will talk now about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ [Ca believer] who was ·taken up [caught up; snatched away] to the third heaven [Cthe presence of God] fourteen years ago [CPaul is indirectly referring to himself]. I do not know whether the man was in his body or out of his body, but God knows. And I know that this man was ·taken up [caught up; snatched away] to paradise [Canother name for heaven; Luke 23:43; Rev. 2:7]. I don’t know if he was in his body or away from his body, but God knows. He heard things ·he is not able to explain [inexpressible; ineffable], things that no human is allowed to tell. 5 I will ·brag [boast] about a man like that, but I will not ·brag [boast] about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 But if I wanted to ·brag [boast] about myself, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will ·not brag about myself [spare you; refrain from this] because I do not want people to think more of me than what they see me do or hear me ·say [or say, or because of these extraordinary revelations; Cthis phrase may go here or with the next sentence]. 7 So that I would not become too proud ·of the wonderful things that were shown to me [or because of these extraordinary revelations; Cthis phrase may be part of the previous sentence], a ·painful physical problem [Lthorn in the flesh] was given to me. This problem was a messenger from Satan, sent to ·beat [torment; harrass; trouble] me and keep me from being too proud. 8 I ·begged [pleaded with] the Lord three times ·to take this problem away from [Lthat it might leave] me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is ·enough for you [sufficient for you; all you need]. ·When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you [LFor (my) power is perfected in weakness].” So I am very happy to ·brag [boast] about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can ·live [reside; or rest] in me. 10 For this reason I am ·happy [pleased; content] when I have weaknesses, insults, ·hard times [times of need], ·sufferings [persecutions], and ·all kinds of troubles [distress] ·for [for the sake of] Christ. Because when I am weak, then I am truly strong.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 17:46:47 +0000
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