A Thorn in the Flesh: BIBLE, New American Standard Bible == BIBLE-CENTER

2 Corinthians, Chapter 12, verses 7-21

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^b Lit beattorment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 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^c Lit inabout my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with^d Or mistreatmentinsults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.	7 Co2 12:1 Num 33:55 Eze 28:24 Hos 2:6 Job 2:6 Mat 4:10 Co1 5:5 8 Mat 26:44 9 Co1 2:5 Eph 3:16 Php 4:13 Co1 2:3 Co2 12:5 10 Rom 5:3 Rom 8:35 Co2 6:4 Th2 1:4 Ti2 3:11 Co2 6:4 Co2 5:15 Co2 5:20 Co2 13:4
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^e Or super-apostlesmost eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. ¹² The^f Or attesting miraclessigns^g Lit of the apostleof a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by^h Or attesting miraclessigns and wonders andⁱ Or works of powermiracles. 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!	11 Co2 5:13 Co2 11:16 Co2 12:6 Co1 15:10 Co2 11:5 Co1 3:7 Co1 13:2 Co1 15:9 12 Joh 4:48 Rom 15:19 Co1 9:1 13 Co1 9:12 Co1 9:18 Co2 11:9 Co2 12:14 Co2 11:7
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 their parents, but parents for their children. ¹⁵ I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 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. ¹⁷ Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? ¹⁸ I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not^j Lit walkconduct ourselves^k Or by the same Spiritin the same spirit and walk in the same steps?	14 Co2 1:15 Co2 13:1 Co2 13:2 Co1 9:12 Co1 9:18 Co2 11:9 Co2 12:13 Co1 10:24 Co1 10:33 Co1 9:19 Co1 4:14 Gal 4:19 Pro 19:14 Eze 34:2 15 Rom 9:3 Co2 1:6 Php 2:17 Col 1:24 Th1 2:8 Ti2 2:10 Co2 11:11 16 Co2 11:9 Co2 11:20 17 Co2 9:5 18 Co2 8:6 Co2 2:13 Co2 8:18 Co1 4:21 Rom 4:12
¹⁹ All this time^l Or have you been thinking...?you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved. 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 there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; 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,^m I.e. sexual immoralityimmorality and sensuality which they have practiced.	19 Rom 9:1 Co2 2:17 Rom 14:19 Co2 10:8 Th1 5:11 Heb 6:9 20 Co1 4:21 Co2 2:1-4 Co1 1:11 Co1 3:3 Gal 5:20 Rom 2:8 Co1 11:19 Rom 1:30 Jam 4:11 Pe1 2:1 Rom 1:29 Co1 4:6 Co1 4:18 Co1 5:2 Co1 14:33 21 Co2 13:2 Co1 6:9 Co1 6:18 Gal 5:19 Col 3:5


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