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   my weaknesses.   
   6 (2Co 11:16) For if I desire to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be   
   speaking the truth. But now I resist, lest anyone should think of me above   
   that which he sees me to be or hears from me.   
   7 (Nu 33:55; Eze 28:24) And lest I should be exalted above measure   
   by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh,   
   a messenger of Satan, to torment me, lest I be exalted above measure.   
   8 I asked the Lord three times that this thing might depart from me.   
   9 (Php 4:13; 2Co 12:10; Isa 40:29-31) But He said to me, "My grace is   
   sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."   
   Therefore most gladly I will boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ   
   may rest upon me.   
   10 (Ro 5:3; 2Co 13:4) So I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in   
   hardships, in persecutions, and in distresses for Christ's sake. For when   
   I am weak, then I am strong.   
      
   [1] It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions   
   and revelations of the Lord.   
   [2] I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I   
   cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such   
   an one caught up to the third heaven.   
   [3] And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I   
   cannot tell: God knoweth;)   
   [4] How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words,   
   which it is not lawful for a man to utter.   
   [5] Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine   
   infirmities.   
   [6] For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will   
   say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that   
   which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.   
   [7] And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the   
   revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of   
   Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.   
   [8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.   
   [9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is   
   made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my   
   infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.   
   [10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in   
   necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am   
   weak, then am I strong.   
      
   Paul's Concern for the Corinthian Church   
      
   11 (2Co 11:5; 11:1) I have become a fool in boasting. You have compelled me,   
   for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior   
   to the leading apostles, though I am nothing.   
   12 Truly the signs of an apostle were performed among you in all patience,   
   in signs and wonders, and mighty deeds.   
   13 (1Co 9:12; 2Co 12:14) For in what respect were you inferior to other   
   churches, unless it be that I myself was not burdensome to you?   
   Forgive me this wrong!   
   14 (Pr 19:14; 1Co 4:14-15) I am ready to come to you this third time.   
   And I will not be burdensome to you, for I do not seek what is yours,   
   but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but   
   the parents for the children.   
   15 (Php 2:17; 1Th 2:8) And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you.   
   If I love you more, am I to be loved less?   
   16 But be that as it may. I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty,   
   I caught you with deceit.   
   17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?   
   18 (2Co 8:6; Ro 4:12) I urged Titus to go, and with him I sent a brother.   
   Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit?   
   Did we not walk in the same steps?   
   19 (Ro 9:1; 2Co 10:8) Again, do you think that we are defending ourselves   
   to you? We speak before God in Christ. We do all things, beloved, for your   
   edifying.   
   20 (Ro 1:29; 1Co 1:11) For I fear that when I come, I shall not find you   
   such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish.   
   I fear there are debates, envying, wrath, strife, backbiting, whispering,   
   arrogance, and disorder.   
   21 (2Co 13:2; 1Co 5:1) And I fear that when I come again, my God will   
   humble me among you, and that I shall mourn for many who have sinned already,   
   who have not repented of uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lasciviousness   
   which they have committed.   
      
   [11] I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to   
   have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest   
   apostles, though I be nothing.   
   [12] Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience,   
   in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.   
   [13] For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be   
   that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.   
   [14] Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be   
   burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not   
   to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.   
   [15] And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more   
   abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.   
   [16] But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I   
   caught you with guile.   
   [17] Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?   
   [18] I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain   
   of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?   
   [19] Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God   
   in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.   
   [20] For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would,   
   and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be   
   debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings,   
   tumults:   
   [21] And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that   
   I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the   
   uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.   
      
   2 Corinthians 13   
      
   Final Warnings and Greetings   
      
   1 (Dt 19:15; 2Co 12:14) This is the third time I am coming to you. "In the   
   mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." (Dt 19:15.)   
   2 (2Co 1:23) I told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second   
   time. And being absent now, I write to those who have sinned before, and to   
   all the others, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone,   
   3 (Mt 10:20) since you seek proof of Christ speaking through me, who toward   
   you is not weak, but is mighty in you.   
   4 (1Pe 3:18; Ro 6:4; 1:4) For though He was crucified through weakness, yet   
   He lives by the power of God. So also we are weak in Him, but we shall live   
   with Him by the power of God serving you.   
   5 (1Co 11:28; Ro 8:10) Examine yourselves, seeing whether you are in the   
   faith; test yourselves. Do you not know that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless   
   indeed you are disqualified.   
   6 I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.   
   7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved,   
   but that you should do that which is honorable, whether or not we may seem   
   disqualified.   
   8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.   
   9 (2Co 13:11; 1Th 3:10) For we are glad when we are weak, and you are strong.   
   We wish even your perfection.   
   10 (2Co 10:8; 2:3) Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being   
   present I should be sharp, according to the authority which the Lord has   
   given me for edification and not for destruction.   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)