Caught up to Paradise
Pressed to prove himself, Paul tells of a man caught up to paradise, then refuses to trade on it. The thorn stayed after three pleas; the answer was grace, not removal. He wants nothing they own, only them, and dreads finding unrepented sin when he arrives.
12 1I must keep boasting—no profit in it—yet I'll move on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2Fourteen years ago, a man in Christ—I know him—was swept up to the third heaven. Whether in the body or out, I can't say; our Father knows. a a v2 In ancient Jewish thought, 'the third heaven' was the highest spiritual realm — the immediate presence of God. 3And I know this man—whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know; our Father knows. 4Was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, things that no one is permitted to speak.
5I will boast about this man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses. 6If I wanted to boast, I wouldn't be a fool, since I'd be speaking the truth. But I hold back, so no one credits me beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, 7and because these revelations were so extraordinary, therefore, so I wouldn't grow arrogant, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—so I wouldn't grow arrogant. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it would leave me.
9But he told me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is perfected in weakness." So I'll gladly boast all the more in my weaknesses, so Christ's power may rest on me.
10So I'm content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles for Christ's sake. For when I'm weak, then I'm strong.
A Father's Heart for the Church
11I've become foolish—you forced me to it. For I should have been commended by you, for I was no way inferior to the so-called super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12A true apostle's signs were done among you with all endurance: signs, wonders, and mighty works. 13How were you worse off than the rest of the churches—except that I didn't burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
14Look, this is the third time I'm ready to come to you, and I won't burden you—I don't want what's yours, but you. Children shouldn't save for their parents, but parents for their children. 15I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls—loving you more, am I loved less? 16Let it be so—I didn't burden you. But sly as I am, I caught you by trickery. 17Did I take advantage of you through any of those I sent to you? 18I urged Titus to go and sent the brother with him. Did Titus exploit you? Didn't we walk by the same spirit, in the same steps?
19Do you think we've been defending ourselves to you all along? We speak in Christ before our Father—all of it, loved ones, for building you up. 20I fear that when I come, I won't find you as I want, and you won't find me as you want—that there'll be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. 21I fear that when I come again, my Father may humble me before you, and I'll grieve over many who sinned earlier and haven't turned from the impurity, sexual sin, and lust they practiced.
