2 Corinthians 12 – NIV & CCBT

New International Version

2 Corinthians 12:1-21

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

11I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”12:11 Or the most eminent apostles even though I am nothing. 12I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. 13How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

14Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? 16Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

19Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)

哥林多後書 12:1-21

保羅得到的異象和啟示

1自誇雖然無益,但我不得不繼續誇下去,談談主給我的異象和啟示。 2我知道一位基督徒12·2 此人就是保羅本人,他不願誇耀自己的經歷。在十四年前曾被提到第三層天上,是在肉身之內還是在肉身之外,我不知道,只有上帝知道。 3我認識這個人,是在肉身之內還是在肉身之外,我不知道,只有上帝知道。 4他曾被提到天上的樂園裡,聽見了人不可以言傳的隱祕事。 5我要為這人誇口。至於我自己,我除了誇耀自己的軟弱以外,別無可誇。 6就算我誇口,也不算狂妄,因為我所說的都是實話。只是我不會這樣做,恐怕有人把我看得太高,超過了他對我的所見所聞。

7為了使我不至於因所受的啟示太大而自高,有一根「刺」在我身上,就是有撒旦的爪牙攻擊我,免得我驕傲自大。 8我曾三次祈求主叫這根刺離開我, 9但祂說:「我的恩典足夠你用,因為我的能力在人的軟弱上更顯得全備。」所以,我更喜歡誇耀自己的軟弱,好讓基督的能力蔭庇我。 10因此,為了基督的緣故,我欣然面對軟弱、凌辱、迫害、艱難和困苦,因為我軟弱的時候也正是我剛強的時候。

保羅關懷哥林多人

11我成了「傻瓜」是被你們逼的!你們本該稱許我才對。我雖然算不了什麼,卻沒有一點比不上那些「超級使徒」。 12我在你們中間百般地忍耐,用神蹟、奇事、異能證明自己是使徒。 13你們什麼地方不及其他教會呢?我唯一「虧待」你們的地方就是沒有成為你們的負擔!希望各位原諒我的不公道!

14如今我打算第三次到你們那裡。我不會拖累你們的,因為我想得到的是你們,而不是你們的財物。兒女不必為父母積財,父母理當為兒女積財。 15為了你們的靈魂,我甘願付出,包括自己的生命。難道我越愛你們,就越得不到你們的愛嗎?

16算了!我沒有拖累過你們,但居然有人說我狡猾,用詭計騙你們。 17請問,在我派到你們那裡的人當中,我藉著誰佔過你們的便宜呢? 18我懇求提多去你們那裡,並派弟兄與他同去。難道提多佔過你們的便宜嗎?我們行事為人豈不是心靈相通,步調一致嗎?

19你們一直以為我們是替自己辯白,其實我們這番話是在基督裡、在上帝面前說的。親愛的弟兄姊妹,這一切都是為了造就你們。 20因為我怕到你們那裡的時候,我對你們的期望會落空,而你們對我也大失所望。我怕你們當中有紛爭、嫉妒、惱怒、仇恨、毀謗、閒話、狂傲和混亂。 21我怕再去你們那裡時,我的上帝會使我在你們面前感到羞愧,又怕看到許多從前犯罪、道德敗壞、淫亂放蕩的人仍然不肯悔改,便心裡悲傷。