1: It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will
come to visions and revelations of the Lord. |
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2: I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in
the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God
knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. |
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3:
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the
body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) |
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4: How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable
words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. |
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5: Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory,
but in mine infirmities. |
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6: For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for
I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me
above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. |
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7: And lest I should be exalted above measure through the
abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the
flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted
above measure. |
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8: For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might
depart from me. |
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9: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my
strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I
rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon
me. |
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10: Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when
I am weak, then am I strong. |
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11: I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I
ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very
chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. |
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12: Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all
patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. |
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13: For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches,
except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this
wrong. |
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14: Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will
not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the
children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the
children. |
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15: And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the
more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. |
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16: But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being
crafty, I caught you with guile. |
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17: Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
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18: I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus
make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in
the same steps? |
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19: Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak
before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your
edifying. |
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20: For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I
would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest
there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings,
swellings, tumults: |
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21: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you,
and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not
repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which
they have committed. |