The Daily Audio Bible

I Could Boast In My Visions And Revelations From The Lord

12 It-is-necessary to boast. It is not beneficial^[a], but I will come to visions and revelations from the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago— whether in the body, I do not know, or outside of the body, I do not know. God knows— that such a one was snatched-away^[b] to the third heaven. ³ And I know such a man— whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know. God knows— ⁴ that he was snatched away into paradise, and heard unspeakable words which are not permitted for a man to speak. ⁵ I will boast on behalf of such a one. But I will not boast on behalf of myself, except in the weaknesses. ⁶ For if I should desire to boast, I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I am sparing you, that no one might credit to me beyond what he sees as to me, or hears as to something from me.

But God’s Power Is Perfected In Weakness, So I Will Boast In My Weaknesses

⁷ And^[c] for the excess^[d] of the revelations— for-this-reason, in order that I might not be exalted^[e], a thorn in the flesh was given to me; a messenger of Satan to^[f] beat^[g] me in order that I might not be exalted. ⁸ I appealed-to the Lord about this three-times, that it^[h] might depart from me. ⁹ And He has said to me: “My grace is sufficient^[i] for you. For My power is perfected^[j] in weakness”. Therefore most-gladly^[k] I will rather boast in my weaknesses in order that the power of Christ may dwell upon me. ¹⁰ For this reason I am well-pleased with weaknesses, with insults^[l], with constraints, with persecutions and distresses for the sake of Christ. For whenever I am weak, at that time I am powerful^[m].