Paul Shares Some Visions & Revelations Shown to Him |
2 Corinthians 12:1-21 Paul's 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians [in Smaller Chunks] |
I will come to visions & revelations [from] the Lord. [Without a doubt,] it's not expedient, [a.k.a. advantageous,] for me to glory, [a.k.a. boast.] [Acts 16:9-10 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man [from] Macedonia stood there & [pleaded with] him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, & help us. And immediately after [Paul] had seen the vision, we endeavored, [a.k.a. attempted,] to go into Macedonia, [definitely assuming] that the Lord had called us to preach the Gospel, [about Christ,] to them. |
Over] 14 years ago, I knew a man [through] Christ, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I can't tell. [Only] God [knows;]) [how] such a [man was] caught up to the 3rd heaven. |
And I know such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body. I can't tell: [only] God [knows;) how that [man] was caught up into paradise, & heard unspeakable words, which [aren't] lawful for a man to utter, [a.k.a. say aloud.] |
I will glory, [a.k.a. boast, about] one such [as this.] [Still,] I won't [boast about] myself, but [boast only] in my infirmities, [a.k.a. weaknesses.] [2 Corinthians 11:23-28 (I speak [like] a fool,) [but] I am [a minister through even] more [tribulations:] in more abundant [labors, a.k.a. heavy work;] in stripes, [a.k.a. whip marks, beyond measurement:] more [frequently] in prisons; [often] in [risking my life to the point of] [death.] I received [39] stripes, [a.k.a. whip marks, by] the Jews, 5 times. [Three times,] I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; & I suffered shipwreck [three times;] & I have been in the deep [waters] a night & a day; often [I've been on:] [journeys;] in [perilous] waters; & in perils [by] robbers; in perils by [my] own countrymen; in perils by the heathen; in perils in the city; in perils in the wilderness; in perils in the sea, & in perils among false brethren. [I've experienced:] weariness & painfulness; often in watchings; [a.k.a. being guarded;] in hunger & thirst; often in fastings, & in cold & nakedness. [Besides] those things that are [outside,] that [happen to] me daily, [I also have] the care, [a.k.a. responsibility for overseeing,] all the churches.] |
For I will say the truth, [although] I would desire to [boast,] I shall not [appear to] be a fool. But I forbear, [a.k.a. withhold] [it] now, lest any man should think of me above [what] he [sees] me to be, or [what] he [hears from] me. [Lest] I should be exalted, [a.k.a. magnified, beyond] measure, [because] [of] the abundance of revelations. |
The messenger of Satan, was given to me [as] a thorn in [my] flesh, [a.k.a. skin,] to buffet, [a.k.a. torment] me, lest I should be exalted [beyond] measure. I [begged] the Lord [3 times, about] this thing, [so] that it might depart from me. And [the Lord God] said to me, My grace is sufficient, [a.k.a. enough,] for you. For My strength, [a.k.a. power,] is made perfect in weakness. |
Therefore, most gladly, I will rather [boast] in my infirmities, [so] that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in: infirmities, [a.k.a. weaknesses;] reproaches, [a.k.a. criticism;] [having a lack of] necessities; persecutions; & in [distress] for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, [through the Lord God,] then, I am strong. |
You have compelled, [a.k.a. urged,] me, & I [have] become a fool [by boasting.] For I ought, [a.k.a. should,] have been commended, [a.k.a. complimented, by] you. For I am behind the very [leaders] [of the] apostles in nothing, [although] I [am] nothing. |
Truly, the signs of an apostle in all: patience; signs; wonders, [a.k.a. miracles;] & mighty deeds, were [accomplished] among you. For [in what] were you inferior to other churches, except that it [was] that I, myself, wasn't [financially] burdensome to you? Forgive me [for] this wrong. |
[Look,] I'm ready to come to you [this] 3rd time, & I won't be [a financial] [burden] to you. For I [don't] seek [what is] yours, but [I seek to see] you. For the children, [shouldn't] [have] to lay up, [a.k.a. store up,] for the parents, but the parents [should store up] for the children. |
And I will very gladly spend [all that I have to assist you, until all I have is] spent for you. Though [it seems] the more abundantly I love you, the less I [am] loved. But [if] [it's] so, I didn't burden you. [However,] I caught you with guile, [a.k.a. deceit,] being crafty, [a.k.a. sly.] |
Did I make a [financial] gain [from] you, by any of [those,] whom I sent to you? I [urged] Titus, & I sent with him, a brother, [in the faith.] Did Titus make a [financial] gain [from] you? |
[Don't] we [walk, a.k.a. follow,] in the same Spirit? [Didn't] we [follow] in the same steps? Again, [do] you think we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God [through] Christ. But dearly beloved, [a.k.a. fellow-believers,] we do all things for your edifying, [a.k.a. instruction.] |
For [I'm] [afraid,] lest when I come, I [won't] find you such as I [want,] & that I shall be found [by] you such as you [wouldn't] [want;] lest there [are:] debates; [envy, a.k.a. greed;] [wrath, a.k.a. fury;] [strife, a.k.a. fights;] [back biting, a.k.a. slander;] [whispering, a.k.a. gossiping;] swellings, a.k.a. pride; & tumults, [a.k.a. riots.] |
And lest, when I come again, my God [humbles] me among you, & that I shall bewail, [a.k.a. mourn,] many [who] have already sinned, & haven't repented of [their:] uncleanness, [a.k.a. sins;] fornication, [a.k.a. adultery;] & lasciviousness, [a.k.a. lustfulness, that] they have committed. |
[1 Corinthians 5:1-2 It is commonly reported that there is fornication, [a.k.a.infidelity,] among you. And such fornication isn't so much as named among the Gentiles, that [someone] should have his father's wife. And you are puffed up, [a.k.a. prideful,] & haven't mourned [instead, so] that he, [who has] done this deed, might be taken away from among you.] |