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1. There is more that I have to say about myself. It won't help, but I will talk now about visions and revelations from the Lord.
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1. It is not expedient G4851 G3756 for me G3427 doubtless G1211 to glory G2744 . I will G1063 come G2064 to G1519 visions G3701 and G2532 revelations G602 of the Lord G2962 .
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2. I know a man in Christ who was taken up to the third heaven. This happened 14 years ago. I don't know if the man was in his body or out of his body, but God knows.
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2. I knew G1492 a man G444 in G1722 Christ G5547 above G4253 fourteen G1180 years G2094 ago, ( whether G1535 in G1722 the body G4983 , I cannot tell G1492 G3756 ; or whether G1535 out G1622 of the G3588 body G4983 , I cannot tell G1492 G3756 : God G2316 knoweth G1492 ;) such a one G5108 caught up G726 to G2193 the third G5154 heaven G3772 .
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3. And I know that this man was taken up to paradise. I don't know if he was in his body or away from his body, but he heard things that he is not able to explain. He heard things that no one is allowed to tell.
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3. And G2532 I knew G1492 such G5108 a man G444 , ( whether G1535 in G1722 the body G4983 , or G1535 out G1622 of the G3588 body G4983 , I cannot tell G1492 G3756 : God G2316 knoweth G1492 ;)
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4. vnumber="4">
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4. How that G3754 he was caught up G726 into G1519 paradise G3857 , and G2532 heard G191 unspeakable G731 words G4487 , which G3739 it is not lawful G1832 G3756 for a man G444 to utter G2980 .
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5. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself. I will boast only about my weaknesses.
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5. Of G5228 such a one G5108 will I glory G2744 : yet G1161 of G5228 myself G1683 I will not G3756 glory G2744 , but G1508 in G1722 mine G3450 infirmities G769 .
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6. But if I wanted to say more about myself, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't say any more, because I don't want people to think more of me than what they see me do or hear me say.
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6. For G1063 though G1437 I would desire G2309 to glory G2744 , I shall not G3756 be G2071 a fool G878 ; for G1063 I will say G2046 the truth G225 : but G1161 now I forbear G5339 , lest G3361 any man G5100 should think G3049 of G1519 me G1691 above G5228 that G3739 which he seeth G991 me G3165 to be, or G2228 that he heareth G191 G5100 of G1537 me G1700 .
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7. But I must not be too proud of the wonderful things that were shown to me. So a painful problem was given to me�an angel from Satan, sent to make me suffer, so that I would not think that I am better than anyone else.
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7. And G2532 lest G3363 I should be exalted above measure G5229 through the G3588 abundance G5236 of the G3588 revelations G602 , there was given G1325 to me G3427 a thorn G4647 in the G3588 flesh G4561 , the messenger G32 of Satan G4566 to G2443 buffet G2852 me G3165 , lest G3363 I should be exalted above measure G5229 .
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8. I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me.
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8. For G5228 this thing G5127 I besought G3870 the G3588 Lord G2962 thrice G5151 , that G2443 it might depart G868 from G575 me G1700 .
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9. But the Lord said, "My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power." So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can stay in me.
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9. And G2532 he said G2046 unto me G3427 , My G3450 grace G5485 is sufficient G714 for thee G4671 : for G1063 my G3450 strength G1411 is made perfect G5048 in G1722 weakness G769 . Most gladly G2236 therefore G3767 will I rather G3123 glory G2744 in G1722 my G3450 infirmities G769 , that G2443 the G3588 power G1411 of Christ G5547 may rest G1981 upon G1909 me G1691 .
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10. Yes, I am glad to have weaknesses if they are for Christ. I am glad to be insulted and have hard times. I am glad when I am persecuted and have problems, because it is when I am weak that I am really strong.
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10. Therefore G1352 I take pleasure G2106 in G1722 infirmities G769 , in G1722 reproaches G5196 , in G1722 necessities G318 , in G1722 persecutions G1375 , in G1722 distresses G4730 for Christ's sake G5228 G5547 : for G1063 when G3752 I am weak G770 , then G5119 am G1510 I strong G1415 .
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11. I have been talking like a fool, but you made me do it. You people are the ones who should say good things about me. I am worth nothing, but those "super apostles " are not worth any more than I am!
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11. I am become G1096 a fool G878 in glorying G2744 ; ye G5210 have compelled G315 me G3165 : for G1063 I G1473 ought G3784 to have been commended G4921 of G5259 you G5216 : for G1063 in nothing G3762 am I behind G5302 the G3588 very chiefest G5228 G3029 apostles G652 , though G1499 I be G1510 nothing G3762 .
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12. When I was with you, I patiently did the things that prove I am an apostle�signs, wonders, and miracles.
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12. Truly G3303 the G3588 signs G4592 of an apostle G652 were wrought G2716 among G1722 you G5213 in G1722 all G3956 patience G5281 , in G1722 signs G4592 , and G2532 wonders G5059 , and G2532 mighty deeds G1411 .
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13. So you received everything that the other churches have received. Only one thing was different: I was not a burden to you. Forgive me for this!
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13. For G1063 what G5101 is G2076 it wherein G3739 ye were inferior G2274 to G5228 other G3062 churches G1577 , except G1508 it be that G3754 I G1473 myself G846 was not burdensome G2655 G3756 to you G5216 ? forgive G5483 me G3427 this G5026 wrong G93 .
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14. I amnow ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don't want any of the things you own. I only want you. Children should not have to save things to give to their parents. Parents should save to give to their children.
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14. Behold G2400 , the third time G5154 I am G2192 ready G2093 to come G2064 to G4314 you G5209 ; and G2532 I will not G3756 be burdensome G2655 to you G5216 : for G1063 I seek G2212 not G3756 yours G5216 , but G235 you G5209 : for G1063 the G3588 children G5043 ought G3784 not G3756 to lay up G2343 for the G3588 parents G1118 , but G235 the G3588 parents G1118 for the G3588 children G5043 .
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15. So I am happy to give everything I have for you. I will even give myself for you. If I love you more, will you love me less?
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15. And G1161 I G1473 will very gladly G2236 spend G1159 and G2532 be spent G1550 for G5228 you G5216 ; though G1499 the more abundantly G4056 I love G25 you G5209 , the less G2276 I be loved G25 .
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16. It is clear that I was not a burden to you, but you think that I was tricky and used lies to catch you.
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16. But G1161 be G2077 it so, I G1473 did not G3756 burden G2599 you G5209 : nevertheless G235 , being G5225 crafty G3835 , I caught G2983 you G5209 with guile G1388 .
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17. Did I cheat you by using any of the men I sent to you? You know I didn't.
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17. Did I G1223 G846 make a gain G4122 of you G5209 by G3361 any G5100 of them whom G3739 I sent G649 unto G4314 you G5209 ?
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18. I asked Titus to go to you, and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not cheat you, did he? No, you know that his actions and his attitude were the same as ours.
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18. I desired G3870 Titus G5103 , and G2532 with him I sent G4882 a brother G80 . Did G3387 Titus G5103 make a gain G4122 of you G5209 ? walked G4043 we not G3756 in the G3588 same G846 spirit G4151 ? walked we not G3756 in the G3588 same G846 steps G2487 ?
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19. Do you think that we have been defending ourselves to you all this time? No, we say these things in Christ and before God. You are our dear friends, and everything we do is to make you stronger.
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19. Again G3825 , think G1380 ye that G3754 we excuse ourselves G626 unto you G5213 ? we speak G2980 before G2714 God G2316 in G1722 Christ G5547 : but G1161 we do all things G3956 , dearly beloved G27 , for G5228 your G5216 edifying G3619 .
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20. I do this because I am afraid that when I come, you will not be what I want you to be. And I am afraid that I will not be what you want me to be. I am afraid that I will find arguing, jealousy, anger, selfish fighting, evil talk, gossip, pride, and confusion there.
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20. For G1063 I fear G5399 , lest G3381 when I come G2064 , I shall not G3756 find G2147 you G5209 such G3634 as I would G2309 , and that I G2504 shall be found G2147 unto you G5213 such as G3634 ye would G2309 not G3756 : lest G3381 there be debates G2054 , envyings G2205 , wraths G2372 , strifes G2052 , backbitings G2636 , whisperings G5587 , swellings G5450 , tumults G181 :
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21. I am afraid that when I come to you again, my God will make me humble before you. I may have to cry over the loss of some who sinned before. Many of them have still not changed their hearts to be sorry for their evil lives, their sexual sins, and the shameful things they have done.
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21. And lest G3361 , when I come G2064 again G3825 , my G3450 God G2316 will humble G5013 me G3165 among G4314 you G5209 , and G2532 that I shall bewail G3996 many G4183 which have sinned already G4258 , and G2532 have not G3361 repented G3340 of G1909 the G3588 uncleanness G167 and G2532 fornication G4202 and G2532 lasciviousness G766 which G3739 they have committed G4238 .
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