2 Corinthians 1:14

1:14 just as also you have partly understood us, that we are your source of pride just as you also are ours ¹  in the day of the Lord Jesus. ² 

2 Corinthians 11:12-16

11:12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may eliminate any opportunity for those who want a chance to be regarded as our equals ³  in the things they boast about. 11:13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful ⁴  workers, disguising themselves ⁵  as apostles of Christ. 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself ⁶  as an angel of light. 11:15 Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves ⁷  as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions. ⁸ 

Paul’s Sufferings for Christ

11:16 I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. ⁹  But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

2 Corinthians 12:1-9

Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh

12:1 It is necessary to go on boasting. ¹⁰  Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. 12:3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) 12:4 was caught up into paradise ¹¹  and heard things too sacred to be put into words, ¹²  things that a person ¹³  is not permitted to speak. 12:5 On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. 12:6 For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling ¹⁴  the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard ¹⁵  me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, 12:7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, ¹⁶  so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble ¹⁷  me – so that I would not become arrogant. ¹⁸  12:8 I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. 12:9 But ¹⁹  he said to me, “My grace is enough ²⁰  for you, for my ²¹  power is made perfect ²²  in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly ²³  about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in ²⁴  me.

¹ tn Grk “that we are your boast even as you are our boast.”

² tc ‡ On the wording “the Lord Jesus” (τοῦ κυρίου ᾿Ιησοῦ, tou kuriou Ihsou) there is some variation in the extant witnesses: ἡμῶν (Jhmwn, “our”) is found after κυρίου in several significant witnesses (א B F G P 0121 0243 6 33 81 1739 1881 2464 al lat co); the pronoun is lacking from Ì^46vid A C D Ψ Ï. Although in Paul “our Lord Jesus Christ” is a common expression, “our Lord Jesus” is relatively infrequent (cf., e.g., Rom 16:20; 2 Cor 1:14; 1 Thess 2:19; 3:11, 13; 2 Thess 1:8, 12). “The Lord Jesus” occurs about as often as “our Lord Jesus” (cf. 1 Cor 11:23; 16:23; 2 Cor 4:14; 11:31; Eph 1:15; 1 Thess 4:2; 2 Thess 1:7; Phlm 5). Thus, on balance, since scribes would tend to expand on the text, it is probably best to consider the shorter reading as authentic. NA²⁷ places the pronoun in brackets, indicating doubt as to its authenticity.

³ tn Grk “an opportunity, so that they may be found just like us.”

⁴ tn Or “dishonest.”

⁵ tn Or “workers, masquerading.”

⁶ tn Or “Satan himself masquerades.”

⁷ tn Or “also masquerade.”

⁸ tn Or “their works.”

⁹ tn Or “am foolish.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “Boasting is necessary.”

¹¹ sn In the NT, paradise is mentioned three times. In Luke 23:43 it refers to the abode of the righteous dead. In Rev 2:7 it refers to the restoration of Edenic paradise predicted in Isa 51:3 and Ezek 36:35. The reference here in 2 Cor 12:4 is probably to be translated as parallel to the mention of the “third heaven” in v. 2. Assuming that the “first heaven” would be atmospheric heaven (the sky) and “second heaven” the more distant stars and planets, “third heaven” would refer to the place where God dwells. This is much more likely than some variation on the seven heavens mentioned in the pseudepigraphic book 2 Enoch and in other nonbiblical and rabbinic works.

¹² tn Or “things that cannot be put into words.”

¹³ tn Grk “a man.”

¹⁴ tn Or “speaking.”

¹⁵ tn Or “may think of.”

¹⁶ tc Most mss (Ì⁴⁶ D Ψ 1881 Ï) lack διό (dio, “Therefore”), but the widespread distribution and quality of mss which include it (א A B F G 0243 33 81 1175 1739 pc) argues for its authenticity. Internally, its case is equally strong in that its inclusion is grammatically rough (διό is hardly necessary to convey purpose, especially since Paul uses ἵνα [{ina, “so that”] next).

¹⁷ tn Or “to harass.”

¹⁸ tn The phrase “so that I might not become arrogant” is repeated here because it occurs in the Greek text two times in the verse. Although redundant, it is repeated because of the emphatic nature of its affirmation.

¹⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” because of the contrast implicit in the context.

²⁰ tn Or “is sufficient.”

²¹ tc The majority of later mss (א² A^c D¹ Ψ 0243 0278 33 1739 1881 Ï) as well as some versional witnesses include the pronoun “my” here, but the omission of the pronoun has excellent external support (Ì^46vid א* A* B D* F G latt). Scribes probably added the pronoun for clarity, making the obvious referent explicit. This would also make “power” more parallel with “my grace.” Though the original text probably did not include “my,” scribes who added the word were following the sense of Paul’s statement.

²² tn Or “my power comes to full strength.”

²³ tn “Most gladly,” a comparative form used with superlative meaning and translated as such.

²⁴ tn Or “may rest on.”