2 Corinthians · 21 verses
2 Corinthians 12
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
He calls not being a burden a wrong, then says his craft caught the Corinthians by trickery—and leaves the trick sitting there, unexplained.
A heaven, a thorn, and a topsy-turvy boastvv. 1–10
The speaker begins with a heavenly report that refuses to become a travel guide. A man was caught up to the third heaven and Paradise, yet the speaker cannot say whether the man was in the body, and the things heard must remain unsaid. Then, rather abruptly, Paradise is followed by a thorn in the flesh, identified as a messenger of Satan. Three pleas receive one answer from the Lord, and the result is a boast turned inside out: weakness is where power settles, and being weak is the curious route to being strong.
The unpaid apostle and his mysterious trickvv. 11–19
The speaker admits to having become a fool, though he says the Corinthians drove him to it, and places his signs, wonders, and miracles beside his refusal to be a financial burden. He is preparing to visit for a third time, seeking not possessions but the people themselves, and compares the arrangement to children and parents. Then comes the splendidly unexplained confession: he was crafty and caught them by trickery. Titus and another brother were sent, and the speaker asks whether either exploited the Corinthians. The defence, he says, is really meant to build them up.
The visit he fearsvv. 20–21
The coming visit is not presented as a triumphal procession. The speaker fears finding the Corinthians unlike what he wishes, and fears that they will find him likewise. Quarrelling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder wait in a rather crowded queue; beneath them lies the graver fear that earlier sins remain without repentance, leaving the speaker grieved and humbled before them.
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Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
2 Cor 12:1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
2 Cor 12:2I 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.
2 Cor 12:3And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—
2 Cor 12:4was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.
2 Cor 12:5I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
2 Cor 12:6Even 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,
2 Cor 12:7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
2 Cor 12:8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
2 Cor 12:9But 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.
2 Cor 12:10That 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.
2 Cor 12:11I 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.
2 Cor 12:12The marks of a true apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.
2 Cor 12:13In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
2 Cor 12:14See, 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.
2 Cor 12:15And 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?
2 Cor 12:16Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
2 Cor 12:17Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?
2 Cor 12:18I 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 Cor 12:19Have 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.
2 Cor 12:20For 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.
2 Cor 12:21I 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.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 331 passages were voted onto 20 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 9Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- 92 Corinthians 12:10That 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.
- 9Isaiah 40:29–31He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
- 9Ephesians 3:16I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
- 9Joshua 1:9Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- 9Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
- 9Hebrews 4:16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
- 102 Corinthians 12:9But 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.
- 92 Corinthians 12:5I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
- 91 Corinthians 2:5so that your faith would not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
- 10Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
- 9Colossians 1:11being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
- 91 Peter 4:13–14But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.
- 9Matthew 10:19–20But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.
- 10Romans 5:3Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- 102 Corinthians 13:4For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. For we are also weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him concerning you.
Onward