Through My Bible Yr 01 – January 06

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – January 01

2 Corinthians 11:21b – 12:10

2 Corinthians 11

²¹ However bold anyone might be (I am speaking in a foolish way), I am going to be bold too. ²² Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s seed? So am I. ²³ Are they ministers of Christ? (I am speaking in a crazy way.) I am even more. I’ve done more hard work, been in prisons more often, been whipped far more, and I’ve been close to death many times. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. One time I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day on the open sea. ²⁶ I have often been on journeys, in danger from rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from my own people, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the wilderness, in danger on the sea, in danger among false brothers. ²⁷ I have worked hard and struggled. I’ve spent many sleepless nights. I’ve been hungry and thirsty. I’ve gone without food many times. I’ve been cold and lacked clothing.

²⁸ Besides those external matters, there is the daily pressure on me of my concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak without my being weak? Who falls into sin without my being distressed?

³⁰ If it is necessary that I boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is eternally blessed, knows that I am not lying. ³² In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept the city of Damascus on alert ^[1] to arrest me, ³³ but I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands.

Carried Up to Paradise

2 Corinthians 12

¹ I must go on boasting, although there is nothing to be gained. So I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago, was carried up to the third heaven (whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know—God knows). ³ And I know that such a man (whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know—God knows) ⁴ was carried up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words that a man cannot possibly speak. ^{[2] 5} On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. ⁶ Indeed, if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from doing this, so that no one will think more highly of me than what he sees in me or hears from me.

⁷ Therefore, ^[3] to keep me from becoming arrogant due to the extraordinary nature of these revelations, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me, so that I would not become arrogant. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that he would take it away from me. ⁹ And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because my power is made perfect ^[4] in weakness.” Therefore I will be glad to boast all the more in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may shelter me.

¹⁰ That is why I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For whenever I am weak, then am I strong.

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.