Paul’s Revelation

1It is not expedient doubtles, for me to glorie, I wyl come to visions & reuelations of the Lorde. 2For I knew a ma in Christe, aboue xiiij. yeres ago, (whether he were in the body I can not tell, or whether he were out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth) that he was taken vp into the thirde heauen: 3And I knewe the same man (whether in the body or out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth) 4Howe that he was take vp into paradise, & hearde vnspeakeable wordes, which is not lawfull for man to vtter.

Paul’s Thorn and God’s Grace

5Of such a man wyll I glorie, yet of my selfe wyll I not glorie, but in myne infirmities. 6For though I woulde desire to glorie, I shall not be a foole, for I wyll say the trueth: but I nowe refrayne, lest any man shoulde thynke of me, aboue that which he seeth me to be, or yt he heareth of me.

7And lest I shoulde be exalted out of measure through the aboundaunce of the reuelations, there was geuen vnto me a pricke to the fleshe, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, because I should not be exalted out of measure. 8For this thyng besought I the Lorde thryse, that it myght depart from me. 9And he sayde vnto me: My grace is sufficient for thee. For my strength is made perfect in weakenesse. Most gladly therfore, I wyll rather glorie in my infirmities, that the power of Christ myght dwell in me. 10Therfore haue I delectation in infirmities, in rebukes, in necessities, in persecutions, in anguishes for Christes sake: For when I am weake, then am I strong.

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

11I am become a foole in gloriyng. Ye haue compelled me: for I ought to haue ben commended of you. For nothyng was I inferiour vnto the chiefe Apostles, though I be nothyng, 12Truely the signes of an Apostle were wrought among you, in all patience, and signes, and wonders, and myghtie deedes. 13For what is it, wherin ye were inferiour vnto other Churches, except it be that I was not chargeable vnto you? Forgeue me this wrong.

14Beholde, nowe the thirde tyme I am redy to come vnto you, and yet wyll I not be chargeable vnto you: For I seke not yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay vp for the fathers and mothers: but the fathers and mothers for the chyldren. 15I wyll very gladly bestowe, & wylbe bestowed for your sakes, though the more aboundauntly I loue you, the lesse I am loued agayne. 16But be it, that I was not chargeable vnto you: Neuerthelesse, when I was craftie, I caught you with guile. 17Dyd I pyll you by any of them who I sent vnto you? 18I desired Titus, and with hym I sent a brother: Dyd Titus defraude you of any thyng? Haue we not walked in the same spirite? not in the same steppes?

19Agayne, thynke you that we excuse our selues vnto you? We speake in Christ in the syght of God: but we do all thinges dearely beloued, for your edifiyng. 20For I feare lest when I come, I shall not fynde you such as I woulde: and that I shalbe founde vnto you, such as ye woulde not: lest there be debates, enuyinges, wrathes, strifes, backbitinges, whisperinges, swellinges, & seditions: 21And that when I come agayne, my God bryng me lowe among you, and I shall bewayle many of the which haue sinned alredy, and haue not repented of the vncleannesse, and fornication, and wantonnes, which they haue comitted.