哥林多后书 12

异象和启示

1 虽然自夸无益，我还是不得不夸。我现在要提到主的异象和启示。 2 我认识一个在基督里的人，他在十四年前被提到第三层天上去；或在身内，我不知道，或在身外，我也不知道，只有上帝知道。 3 我认识的这样的一个人—或在身内，或在身外，我都不知道，只有上帝知道— 4 他被提到乐园里，听见隐秘的言语，是人不可说的。 5 为这人，我要夸口；但是为我自己，除了我的软弱以外，我并不夸口。 6 就是我愿意夸口也不算狂，因为我会说实话；只是我绝口不谈，恐怕有人把我看得太高了，过于他在我身上所看见所听见的； 7 又恐怕我因所得的启示太高深，就过于高抬自己，所以t有一根刺加在我身上，就是撒但的差役来折磨我，免得我过于高抬自己。 8 为了这事，我曾三次求主使这根刺离开我。 9 他对我说：“我的恩典是够你用的，因为我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全。”所以，我更喜欢夸耀自己的软弱，好使基督的能力覆庇我。 10 为基督的缘故，我以软弱、凌辱、艰难、迫害、困苦为可喜乐的事；因为我什么时候软弱，什么时候就刚强了。

保罗关心哥林多教会

11 我成了愚蠢人，是被你们逼出来的，因为我本该被你们赞许才是。虽然我算不了什么，却没有一件事在那些超级使徒以下。 12 我在你们中间，用百般的忍耐，藉着神迹、奇事、异能显出使徒的凭据来。 13 除了我不曾连累你们这一件事，你们还有什么事不及别的教会呢？这不公平之处，请你们饶恕我吧。

14 如今，我准备第三次到你们那里去。我仍不会连累你们，因为我所求的是你们，不是你们的财物。儿女不该为父母积财，父母该为儿女积财。 15 我也甘心乐意为你们的灵魂费财费力。难道我越爱你们，就越少得你们的爱吗？ 16 罢了，我自己并没有连累你们，你们却有人说，我施诡诈，用心计牢笼你们。 17 我所差遣到你们那里去的人，我何曾藉着他们中的任何人占过你们的便宜呢？ 18 我劝提多到你们那里去，又差遣那位弟兄与他同去，提多占过你们的便宜吗？我们的行事为人不是同一心灵t吗？不是同一步伐吗？

19 你们一直认为我们是在你们面前为自己辩护吗？其实，我们本是在基督里当着上帝面前说话。亲爱的，一切的事都是为了造就你们。 20 我怕我再来的时候，见你们不合我所期望的，而你们见我也不合你们所期望的。我怕有纷争、嫉妒、愤怒、自私、毁谤、谗言、狂傲、动乱的事。 21 我怕我再来的时候，我的上帝使我在你们面前蒙羞，并且又因许多人从前犯罪，行污秽、淫乱、放荡的事，不肯悔改而悲伤。

2 CORINTHIANS 12

Visions from the Lord

1 I have to brag. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I must brag about the visions and other things that the Lord has shown me.

2 I know about one of Christ's followers who was taken up into the third heaven 14 years ago. I don't know if the man was still in his body when it happened, but God certainly knows.
3 As I said, only God really knows if this man was in his body at the time. 4 But he was taken up into paradise, t where he heard things too wonderful to tell.

5 I will brag about that man, but not about myself, except to say how weak I am.
6 Yet even if I did brag, I would not be foolish. I would simply be speaking the truth. But I will try not to say too much. That way, none of you will think more highly of me than you should because of what you have seen me do and say.

7 Of course, I am now referring to the wonderful things I saw. One of Satan's angels was sent to make me suffer terribly, so that I would not feel too proud.t
8 Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away. 9 But he replied, “My gift of undeserved grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am.

10 Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong.

Paul's Concern //for the Lord's Followers //at Corinth

11 I have been making a fool of myself. But you forced me to do it, when you should have been speaking up for me. I may be nothing at all, but I am as good as those super apostles. 12 When I was with you, I was patient and worked all the powerful miracles and signs and wonders of a true apostle.

13 You missed out on only one blessing the other churches received. That is, you didn't have to support me. Forgive me for doing you wrong.
14 I am planning to visit you for the third time. But I still won't make a burden of myself. What I really want is you, and not what you have. Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents are supposed to take care of their children. 15 So I will gladly give all I have and all I am. Will you love me less for loving you too much? 16 You agree that I wasn't a burden to you. Maybe that's because I was trying to catch you off guard and trick you. 17 Were you cheated by any of those I sent to you?

18 I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent another follower with him. But Titus didn't cheat you, and we felt and behaved the same way he did.

19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? Actually, we have been speaking to God as followers of Christ. But, my friends, we did it all for your good.
20 I am afraid when I come, we won't be pleased with each other. I fear that some of you may be arguing or jealous or angry or selfish or gossiping or insulting each other. I even fear that you may be proud and acting like a mob. 21 I am afraid God will make me ashamed when I visit you again. I will feel like crying because many of you have never given up your old sins. You are still doing things that are immoral, indecent, and shameful.