The big picture
2 Corinthians 12 opens in verse 1 with “It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended…”, and closes in verse 21 with “And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail…” Repeated or prominent terms include lest, glory, body, caught, Christ. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Corinthians · King James Version · 212 Corinthians 12:1-7
1–7: It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions…
2 Corinthians 12:1–7 opens with “It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the…” and reaches “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Paul speaking carefully of visions, praying about the thorn, and learning that divine power is displayed in weakness, with particular weight carried by body, glory, lest.
Context that brings the passage to life
“It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
2 Corinthians 12:1-7
King James Version1It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2 Corinthians 12:8-14
8–14: For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2 Corinthians 12:8–14 opens with “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” and reaches “Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Paul speaking carefully of visions, praying about the thorn, and learning that divine power is displayed in weakness, with particular weight carried by burdensome, children, infirmities.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly…” Naming Christ and Most keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Corinthians 12:8-14
King James Version8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
12Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
14Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
2 Corinthians 12:15-21
15–21: I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more…
2 Corinthians 12:15–21 opens with “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the…” and reaches “And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Paul speaking carefully of visions, praying about the thorn, and learning that divine power is displayed in weakness, with particular weight carried by lest, gain, Titus.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abundantly, gladly, less. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
“But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.” The line’s distinctive content terms include burden, caught, crafty. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.
2 Corinthians 12:15-21
King James Version15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
16But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
17Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
18I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
19Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
21And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Corinthians 12:1 begins with “It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Corinthians 12:10 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I…”
The final note
2 Corinthians 12:21 leaves the reader with “And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words lest, glory, body, caught, Christ, infirmities help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who is meant to benefit from Abram's call?
All families of the earth, according to verse 3. Election carries an outward purpose.
How does the Egypt episode complicate a hero story?
Abram acts from fear, while Pharaoh recognizes and challenges the wrong done.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.