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047:012:001
It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory.
I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

047:012:002
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.

047:012:003
And I knew such a man,
(whether in the body,
or out of the body,
I cannot tell:
God knoweth;)

047:012:004
How that he was caught up into paradise,
and heard unspeakable words,
which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

047:012:005
Of such an one will I glory:
yet of myself I will not glory,
but in mine infirmities.

047:012:006
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.

047:012:007
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.

047:012:008
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,
that it might depart from me.

047:012:009
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.

047:012:010
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.

047:012:011
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.

047:012:012
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience,
in signs,
and wonders,
and mighty deeds.

047:012:013
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.

047:012:014
Behold,
the third time I am ready to come to you;
and I will not be burdensome to you:
for I seek not your's but you:
for the children ought not to lay up for the parents,
but the parents for the children.

047:012:015
And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you;
though the more abundantly I love you,
the less I be loved.

047:012:016
But be it so,
I did not burden you:
nevertheless,
being crafty,
I caught you with guile.

047:012:017
Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

047:012:018
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?

047:012:019
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.

047:012:020
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:

047:012:021
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.