Προς Κορινθιους Β΄ 12
1 καυχασθαι δη ου συμφερει μοι ελευσομαι γαρ εις οπτασιας και αποκαλυψεις κυριου
It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast, but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 οιδα ανθρωπον εν χριστω προ ετων δεκατεσσαρων ειτε εν σωματι ουκ οιδα ειτε εκτος του σωματος ουκ οιδα ο θεος οιδεν αρπαγεντα τον τοιουτον εως τριτου ουρανου
I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows.
3 και οιδα τον τοιουτον ανθρωπον ειτε εν σωματι ειτε εκτος του σωματος ουκ οιδα ο θεος οιδεν
I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),
4 οτι ηρπαγη εις τον παραδεισον και ηκουσεν αρρητα ρηματα α ουκ εξον ανθρωπω λαλησαι
how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 υπερ του τοιουτου καυχησομαι υπερ δε εμαυτου ου καυχησομαι ει μη εν ταις ασθενειαις μου
On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
6 εαν γαρ θελησω καυχησασθαι ουκ εσομαι αφρων αληθειαν γαρ ερω φειδομαι δε μη τις εις εμε λογισηται υπερ ο βλεπει με η ακουει τι εξ εμου
For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me or hears from me.
7 και τη υπερβολη των αποκαλυψεων ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι εδοθη μοι σκολοψ τη σαρκι αγγελος σαταν ινα με κολαφιζη ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι
By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.
8 υπερ τουτου τρις τον κυριον παρεκαλεσα ινα αποστη απ εμου
Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
9 και ειρηκεν μοι αρκει σοι η χαρις μου η γαρ δυναμις μου εν ασθενεια τελειουται ηδιστα ουν μαλλον καυχησομαι εν ταις ασθενειαις μου ινα επισκηνωση επ εμε η δυναμις του χριστου
He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
10 διο ευδοκω εν ασθενειαις εν υβρεσιν εν αναγκαις εν διωγμοις εν στενοχωριαις υπερ χριστου οταν γαρ ασθενω τοτε δυνατος ειμι
Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 γεγονα αφρων καυχωμενος υμεις με ηναγκασατε εγω γαρ ωφειλον υφ υμων συνιστασθαι ουδεν γαρ υστερησα των υπερ λιαν αποστολων ει και ουδεν ειμι
I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.
12 τα μεν σημεια του αποστολου κατειργασθη εν υμιν εν παση υπομονη εν σημειοις και τερασιν και δυναμεσιν
Truly the signs of an apostle were worked amongst you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
13 τι γαρ εστιν ο ηττηθητε υπερ τας λοιπας εκκλησιας ει μη οτι αυτος εγω ου κατεναρκησα υμων χαρισασθε μοι την αδικιαν ταυτην
For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 ιδου τριτον ετοιμως εχω ελθειν προς υμας και ου καταναρκησω υμων ου γαρ ζητω τα υμων αλλ υμας ου γαρ οφειλει τα τεκνα τοις γονευσιν θησαυριζειν αλλ οι γονεις τοις τεκνοις
Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 εγω δε ηδιστα δαπανησω και εκδαπανηθησομαι υπερ των ψυχων υμων ει και περισσοτερως υμας αγαπων ηττον αγαπωμαι
I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
16 εστω δε εγω ου κατεβαρησα υμας αλλ υπαρχων πανουργος δολω υμας ελαβον
Even so, I myself didn’t burden you. But you might say that being crafty, I caught you with deception.
17 μη τινα ων απεσταλκα προς υμας δι αυτου επλεονεκτησα υμας
Did I take advantage of you by anyone of those whom I have sent to you?
18 παρεκαλεσα τιτον και συναπεστειλα τον αδελφον μη τι επλεονεκτησεν υμας τιτος ου τω αυτω πνευματι περιεπατησαμεν ου τοις αυτοις ιχνεσιν
I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?
19 παλιν δοκειτε οτι υμιν απολογουμεθα κατενωπιον του θεου εν χριστω λαλουμεν τα δε παντα αγαπητοι υπερ της υμων οικοδομης
Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
20 φοβουμαι γαρ μηπως ελθων ουχ οιους θελω ευρω υμας καγω ευρεθω υμιν οιον ου θελετε μηπως ερεις ζηλοι θυμοι εριθειαι καταλαλιαι ψιθυρισμοι φυσιωσεις ακαταστασιαι
For I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that perhaps there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,
21 μη παλιν ελθοντα με ταπεινωση ο θεος μου προς υμας και πενθησω πολλους των προημαρτηκοτων και μη μετανοησαντων επι τη ακαθαρσια και πορνεια και ασελγεια η επραξαν
that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.
