2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians · Chapter 12

2 Corinthians 12:5

1It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.2I 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.3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)4How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.5Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.6For 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.7And 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.8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.9And 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.10Therefore 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.11I 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.12Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.13For 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.14Behold, 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.15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.16But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.17Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?18I 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?19Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.20For 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:21And 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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
5Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my weaknesses.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

2 Corinthians 12:1-6Visions and revelations

About 2 Corinthians 12Paul tells of "a man in Christ" who "was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words," and then of "a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan" given to him "lest I should be exalted above measure." He asked the Lord three times to remove it, and the Lord said, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness," so Paul concludes, "when I am weak, then am I strong." Preparing to come "the third time," he says, "I seek not yours, but you," and fears he may find sin unrepented of among them. 2 Corinthians 12:22 Corinthians 12:42 Corinthians 12:72 Corinthians 12:82 Corinthians 12:92 Corinthians 12:102 Corinthians 12:142 Corinthians 12:202 Corinthians 12:21

Who, where and when in this chapter

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
ConcerningὑπὲρhuperG5228
above/for

ὑπέρ (huper) ὑπέρ (when following subst.—poët.—ὕπερ; so as adv., 2Co.11:23), prep. with genitive, accusative I. C. genitive, primarily of place (rest or motion), over, above, across, beyond, hence, metaphorically, 1. for, on behalf of: of prayer, Mat.5:44, Act.8:24, Rom.10:1, Jas.5:16, al.; of laying down life, Jhn.10:11, Rom.9:3, al.; esp. of Christ giving his life for man's redemption, Mrk.14:24, Jhn.10:15, Act.21:13, Rom.5:6-8, al.; opposite to κατά, Mrk.9:40, Luk.9:50, Rom.8:31. …

such a manτοιούτουtoioutouG5108
such as this

τοιοῦτος (toioutos) τοιοῦτος, -αύτη, -οῦτο (as usually in Att.. prose. Ep. and Ion. neut. -οῦτον in Al., Act.21:25, Rec. only), correlat. of οἷος, ὁποῖος, ὥς, etc., such as this, of such a kind, such: Mat.9:8 18:5, Mrk.4:33 6:2 7:13 9:37 (T, τούτων), Jhn.9:16, Act.16:24, 1Co.5:1 11:16, 2Co.3:4 3:12 12:3, Heb.7:26 8:1 12:3 13:16, Jas.4:16; οἷος . . . τ., 1Co.15:48, 2Co.10:11; id. pleonast. (see Bl., § 50, 4), Mrk.13:19; before ὁποῖος, Act.26:29; ὥς, Phm 9. As subst., anarth: pl., Luk.9:9; with art., ὁ τ., such a one (Bl., § 47, 9; Ellic. on Gal.5:21): Act.22:22, 1Co.5:5, al.; pl., Mat.19:14, Mrk.10:14, al.; neut …

I will boast,καυχήσομαι,kauchēsomaiG2744
to boast

καυχάομαι (kauchaomai) καυχάομαι, -ῶμαι [in LXX for הָלַל hith., etc. ;] to boast or glory (in LXX, of joyous exultation, and so in the NT quotations, infr.; cf. DB, ii, 790b; Hort on Jas.1:9): absol., 1Co.1:31 (LXX) 1Co.4:7 13:3, 2Co.10:13 10:17" (LXX) 2Co.11:16 11:18 12:1 12:6, Eph.2:9, Jas.4:16; with accusative of thing(s), 2Co.9:2 11:30; before ἐν (LXX), Rom.2:23 5:3, 1Co.3:21, 2Co.5:12 10:15 11:12 12:5 12:9, Gal.6:13-14 Jas.1:9; ἐν (τ.) θεῷ, Rom.2:17 5:11; ἐν κυρίῳ, 1Co.1:31 (LXX) 2Co.10:17 (LXX); ἐν Χ. Ἰησοῦ, Php.3:3; before ἐπί with dative, Rom.5:2; περί, with genitive, 2Co.10:8; εἰς, 2Co.10:16; ὑπέρ, with …

concerningὑπὲρhuperG5228
above/for

ὑπέρ (huper) ὑπέρ (when following subst.—poët.—ὕπερ; so as adv., 2Co.11:23), prep. with genitive, accusative I. C. genitive, primarily of place (rest or motion), over, above, across, beyond, hence, metaphorically, 1. for, on behalf of: of prayer, Mat.5:44, Act.8:24, Rom.10:1, Jas.5:16, al.; of laying down life, Jhn.10:11, Rom.9:3, al.; esp. of Christ giving his life for man's redemption, Mrk.14:24, Jhn.10:15, Act.21:13, Rom.5:6-8, al.; opposite to κατά, Mrk.9:40, Luk.9:50, Rom.8:31. …

howeverδὲdeG1161
then

δέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; …

myselfἐμαυτοῦemautouG1473
I/we

ἐγώ (egō) ἐγώ, genitive, etc., ἐμοῦ, ἐμοί, ἐμέ (enclitic μου, μοι, με), pl. ἡμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς, of person(s) pron. I. (a) The nom. is usually emphatic, when expressed as subjc, as in Mat.3:11, Mrk.1:8, Luk.3:16, al. But often there is no apparent emphasis, as Mat.10:16, Jhn.10:17; ἰδοὺ ἐ. (= Heb. הִנֵּנִי, cf. 1Ki.3:8), Act.9:10; ἐ. (like Heb. אֲנִי), I am, Jhn.1:23 (LXX), Act.7:32 (LXX). …

notοὐouG3756
no

οὐ (ou) οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); 1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. …

I will boastκαυχήσομαιkauchēsomaiG2744
to boast

καυχάομαι (kauchaomai) καυχάομαι, -ῶμαι [in LXX for הָלַל hith., etc. ;] to boast or glory (in LXX, of joyous exultation, and so in the NT quotations, infr.; cf. DB, ii, 790b; Hort on Jas.1:9): absol., 1Co.1:31 (LXX) 1Co.4:7 13:3, 2Co.10:13 10:17" (LXX) 2Co.11:16 11:18 12:1 12:6, Eph.2:9, Jas.4:16; with accusative of thing(s), 2Co.9:2 11:30; before ἐν (LXX), Rom.2:23 5:3, 1Co.3:21, 2Co.5:12 10:15 11:12 12:5 12:9, Gal.6:13-14 Jas.1:9; ἐν (τ.) θεῷ, Rom.2:17 5:11; ἐν κυρίῳ, 1Co.1:31 (LXX) 2Co.10:17 (LXX); ἐν Χ. Ἰησοῦ, Php.3:3; before ἐπί with dative, Rom.5:2; περί, with genitive, 2Co.10:8; εἰς, 2Co.10:16; ὑπέρ, with …

onlyεἰeiG1487H
if

εἰ (ei) εἰ, conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions. I. Conditional, if; 1. with indic, expressing a general assumption; (a) pres.: before indic, pres., Mat.11:14, Rom.8:25, al.; before imperat., Mrk.4:23 9:22, Jhn.15:18, 1Co.7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luk.16:31, Rom.8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Mat.12:26, Rom.4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luk.17:6, Jhn.8:39; before quæst., Mat.6:23, Jhn.5:47 7:23 8:46, 1Pe.2:20; (b) fut.: Mat.26:33, 1Pe.2:20; (with) pf.: Jhn.11:12, Rom.6:5, al.; …

exceptμὴmēG3361
not

μή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. …

inἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

weaknessesἀσθενείαιςastheneiaisG0769G
weakness: weak

ἀσθένεια (astheneia) ἀσθένεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀσθενής), [in LXX for כָּשַׁל, etc. ;] weakness, frailty, sickness: Luk.13:11-12, Jhn.11:4, Act.28:9, Rom.6:19 8:26, 2Co.11:30 13:4, Gal.4:13 (MM, see word), Heb.5:2 7:28 11:34; ἐν ἀ., Jhn.5:5, 1Co.2:3 15:43, 2Co.12:9; pl., Mat.8:17, Luk.5:15 8:2, 2Co.12:5 12:9-10, 1Ti.5:23, Heb.4:15.† SYN.: μαλακία, νόσος (see DB, iii, 323a) (AS)

of mine;μου·mouG3165
me

μέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.