Paul’s Revelation
I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. Gal 1:121Jn 5:202Co 12:71Co 10:232Co 12:112Co 8:10Act 18:9Act 22:17-21 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows. Act 22:171Th 4:17Ezk 8:1-3Rev 4:22Co 11:11Isa 57:151Ki 18:12Isa 45:24-25 And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell. Luk 23:43Ezk 31:9Rev 2:7
Paul’s Thorn and God’s Grace
I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses. 1Co 2:32Co 11:302Co 12:9-10 Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me, 2Co 11:162Co 10:8-102Co 11:312Co 12:111Co 3:51Co 3:9-102Co 1:182Co 12:7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Num 33:55Jdg 2:32Ch 32:25-261Co 5:5Gal 4:13Gen 32:311Ti 3:6Dan 5:20
So to keep me from becoming conceited, 1 I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. Heb 5:7Mat 26:39-441Sa 15:112Sa 12:16-18Psa 77:2-11Mat 20:21-22Deu 3:23-27 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. Php 4:132Co 12:10Isa 40:29-31Eph 3:16Jos 1:9Isa 43:21Co 10:13Heb 4:16 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2Co 12:9Eph 6:10Rom 5:32Co 13:4Jas 1:21Pe 1:6-72Co 6:4Luk 6:22
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians
I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 2Co 11:51Co 15:8-102Co 11:1Eph 3:81Co 3:221Co 3:4-72Co 1:62Co 11:16-17 The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance. Rom 15:18-192Co 4:21Co 1:5-71Co 14:181Co 9:1-22Co 11:42Co 11:6Jhn 4:48 In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! 1Co 9:121Co 9:61Co 9:15-182Co 11:7-92Co 12:14
See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. Pro 19:14Gen 24:35-361Co 10:33Gen 31:14-151Co 10:24Pro 13:222Co 1:15Ezk 34:2 And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less? 1Th 2:82Co 1:6Col 1:24Php 2:172Ti 2:102Co 2:32Co 6:12-13Heb 13:17
Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery. 1Th 2:31Th 2:52Co 1:122Co 10:2-32Co 11:9-102Co 12:132Co 4:22Co 7:2 Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you? 1Co 16:101Co 4:172Co 12:182Co 9:52Ki 5:162Ki 5:20-27 I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps? 2 2Co 8:6Rom 4:121Pe 2:211Sa 12:3-42Co 2:12-132Co 7:22Co 7:62Co 8:16-23
Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up. Rom 9:11Co 14:262Co 10:81Co 10:141Co 10:331Co 9:12-232Co 11:102Co 11:31 For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. 1Pe 2:1Gal 5:19-211Co 1:11Rom 1:29Gal 5:15Jud 1:16Pro 16:28Jas 4:1-5 I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery. 2Co 13:21Co 5:11Co 5:9-111Pe 4:2-3Col 3:5Gal 5:19Rev 21:8Jud 1:23