2 Corinthians 12

¹ It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast, but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

² I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago – whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows.

³ I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows), Fathers

⁴ how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Fathers

⁵ On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

⁶ For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me or hears from me.

⁷ By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. Fathers

⁸ Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. Fathers

⁹ He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. CCC · Fathers

¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

¹¹ I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

¹² Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works.

¹³ For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

¹⁴ Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

¹⁵ I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?

¹⁶ Even so, I myself didn’t burden you. But you might say that being crafty, I caught you with deception.

¹⁷ Did I take advantage of you by anyone of those whom I have sent to you?

¹⁸ I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?

¹⁹ Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

²⁰ For I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that perhaps there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,

²¹ that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.

¹ IIf I must glory (it is not expedient indeed) but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

² I know a man in Christ: above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven.

³ And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth): Fathers

⁴ That he was caught up into paradise and heard secret words which it is not granted to man to utter. Fathers

⁵ For such an one I will glory: but for myself I will glory nothing but in my infirmities.

⁶ For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish: for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me.

⁷ And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. Fathers

⁸ For which thing, thrice I besought the Lord that it might depart from me. Fathers

⁹ And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. CCC · Fathers

¹⁰ For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful.

¹¹ I am become foolish. You have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you. For I have no way come short of them that are above measure apostles, although I be nothing.

¹² Yet the signs of my apostleship have been wrought on you, in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

¹³ For what is there that you have had less than the other churches but that I myself was not burthensome to you? Pardon me this injury.

¹⁴ Behold now the third time I am ready to come to you and I will not be burthensome unto you. For I seek not the things that are yours, but you. For neither ought the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

¹⁵ But I most gladly will spend and be spent myself for your souls: although loving you more, I be loved less.

¹⁶ But be it so: I did not burthen you: but being crafty, I caught you by guile.

¹⁷ Did I overreach you by any of them whom I sent to you?

¹⁸ I desired Titus: and I sent with him a brother. Did Titus overreach you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? Did we not in the same steps?

¹⁹ Of old, think you that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ: but all things, my dearly beloved, for your edification.

²⁰ For I fear lest perhaps, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you such as you would not. Lest perhaps contentions, envyings, animosities, dissensions, detractions, whisperings, swellings, seditions, be among you.

²¹ Lest again, when I come, God humble me among you: and I mourn many of them that sinned before and have not done penance for the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness that they have committed.