Paul's Visions and His Thorn

2 Corinthians 12

1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and x revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man y in Christ who fourteen years ago was z caught up to a the third heaven - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, b God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into c paradise - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, b God knows - 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, d except of my weaknesses. 6 Though if I should wish to boast, e I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So f to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, 1 g a thorn was given me in the flesh, h a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 i Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, j "My grace is sufficient for you, for k my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that l the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 m For the sake of Christ, then, n I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For o when I am weak, then I am strong.

  1. Cross References
    Galatians 1:12
    For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
    Galatians 2:2
    I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.
    Ephesians 3:3
    How the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.
  2. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:17
    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
  3. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 12:3
    And I know that this man was caught up into paradise - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows -
    1 Thessalonians 4:17
    Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
    Revelation 12:5
    She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne.
    Ezekiel 8:3
    He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy.
    Acts 8:39
    And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
  4. Cross References
    Psalms 148:4
    Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
  5. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:11
    And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
  6. Cross References
    Luke 23:43
    And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.
    Revelation 2:7
    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
    Genesis 2:8
    And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
  7. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 12:2
    I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.
  8. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 2:3
    And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling.
  9. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:13
    For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
    2 Corinthians 11:16 - 17
    I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
    2 Corinthians 12:11
    I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
  10. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 10:10
    For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.
  11. Cross References
    Numbers 33:55
    But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell.
    Ezekiel 28:24
    And for the house of Israel there shall be no more a brier to prick or a thorn to hurt them among all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.
  12. Cross References
    Luke 13:16
    And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?
    1 Corinthians 5:5
    You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
  13. Cross References
    Matthew 26:44
    So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.
  14. Cross References
    Isaiah 43:2
    When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
  15. Cross References
    Isaiah 40:29 - 31
    He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
    Philippians 4:13
    I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
  16. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 2:5
    That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
  17. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:15
    And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
    Matthew 5:11 - 12
    Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
  18. Cross References
    Romans 5:3
    More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance.
  19. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 13:4
    For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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