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- ¶ BOASTING is proper, but there is no advantage in it, and I prefer to relate the visions and revelations of our Lord.
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- I knew a man in Christ more than fourteen years ago, but whether I knew him in the body or out of the body, I do not know;
God knows; this very one was caught up to the third heaven.
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- And I still know this man, but whether in the body or whether out of the body, I cannot tell;
God knows;
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- How that he was caught up to paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
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- Of such a person, I will boast;
but of myself, I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
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- But even if I should desire to boast, I will not be a fool;
for I will tell the truth; but now I refrain, lest any one should think more of me than what he sees me to be and what he hears from me.
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- And lest I should be exalted through the abundance of the revelations, there was delivered to me a thorn in my flesh, the angel of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted.
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- Three times I besought my Lord concerning this thing, that it might depart from me.
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- And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you;
for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I would rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
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- Therefore I am content with infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, and imprisonments for Christ’s sake;
for when I am physically weak, then I am spiritually strong.
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- ¶ Behold, I am foolish to boast but you have forced me;
for you ought to have testified concerning me; for in no way am I less than those apostles who are highly honored, though I am nothing.
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- The miracles which the apostles have wrought I have wrought among you also in all patience, in signs, in wonders, and mighty deeds.
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- For what do you lack that other churches have, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you?
Forgive me this fault!
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- Behold, this is the third time I am prepared to come to you;
and I will not burden you; for I seek nothing from you but yourselves; for children are not under obligation to lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the children.
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- I will gladly pay my expenses, and I will even give myself for the sake of your souls;
though the more I love you, the less you love me.
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- But be it so, I did not burden you;
nevertheless as a shrewd man, I caught you with guile.
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- Why?
Did I extort anything from you by any of the men whom I sent to you?
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- I requested Titus to visit you, and I sent brethren with him.
Did Titus extort anything from you? Did we not walk in the same spirit, and did we not walk in the same steps?
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- Why?
Do you still think we are apologizing? No! We speak before God in Christ; and we do all these things, my beloved, for your edification.
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- For I fear, lest when I come to you, I shall not find you such as I wish to find you, and that you also will not find me as you wish to find me, lest there be controversies, envyings, angers, stubbornness, accusations, slanderings, boastings and disorders.
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- Perhaps when I come to you, my God will humble me, and I will mourn over many who have sinned and who have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and lasciviousness which they have committed.
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