2 Corinthians 12:5-6

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 the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me,

2 Corinthians 12:9

12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.

2 Corinthians 12:11

The Signs of an Apostle

12:11 I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.


tn Or “speaking.”

tn Or “may think of.”

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

tn Or “is sufficient.”

tc The majority of later mss (א2 Ac 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 (Ì46vid 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.

tn Or “my power comes to full strength.”

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

tn Or “may rest on.”

tn Or “I am in no way inferior.”