2 Corinthians 12:1

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

¶Καυχᾶσθαι δὴ οὐ συμφέρει μοι. Ἐλεύσομαι γὰρ εἰς ὀπτασίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεις Κυρίου.

Transliteration

Kauchasthai dē not sympherei to me. Eleusomai for into optasias and apokalypseis of Kyriou.

Grammar Details

• *Kauchasthai*: present infinitive, middle/passive - to boast/glory
• *dē*: particle - indeed/truly/now
• *sympherei*: present indicative, 3rd singular - it profits/benefits/is expedient
• *Eleusomai*: future indicative, 1st singular - I will come/proceed
• *optasias*: accusative, feminine, plural - visions/appearances
• *apokalypseis*: accusative, feminine, plural - revelations/disclosures
• *Kyriou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of the Lord

Word Meanings

• *Kauchasthai*: to boast/to glory/to exult
• *dē*: indeed/truly/now/therefore
• *sympherei*: benefits/profits/is advantageous/is expedient
• *Eleusomai*: I will come/I will proceed/I will go on
• *optasias*: visions/appearances/sightings
• *apokalypseis*: revelations/disclosures/unveilings
• *Kyriou*: Lord/master/owner

Referenced Verses

• Gal 1:12 : 12 For I did not receive it or learn it from any human source; instead I received it by a revelation of Jesus Christ.
• Gal 2:2 : 2 I went there because of a revelation and presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so only in a private meeting with the influential people, to make sure that I was not running– or had not run– in vain.
• 2 Cor 12:7 : 7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me– so that I would not become arrogant.
• 2 Cor 12:11 : 11 The Signs of an Apostle 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.
• Eph 3:3 : 3 that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly.
• 1 John 5:20 : 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life.
• Num 12:6 : 6 The LORD said,“Hear now my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known to him in a vision; I will speak with him in a dream.
• Ezek 1:1-9 : 1 ¶ A Vision of God’s Glory In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles at the Kebar River, the heavens opened and I saw a divine vision. 2 (On the fifth day of the month– it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile– 3 the LORD’s message came to the priest Ezekiel the son of Buzi, at the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. The hand of the LORD came on him there). 4 As I watched, I noticed a windstorm coming from the north– an enormous cloud, with lightning flashing, such that bright light rimmed it and came from it like glowing amber from the middle of a fire. 5 In the fire were what looked like four living beings. In their appearance they had human form, 6 but each had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, but the soles of their feet were like calves’ feet. They gleamed like polished bronze. 8 They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, 9 their wings touched each other; they did not turn as they moved, but went straight ahead. 10 Their faces had this appearance: Each of the four had the face of a man, with the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left and also the face of an eagle. 11 Their wings were spread out above them; each had two wings touching the wings of one of the other beings on either side and two wings covering their bodies. 12 Each moved straight ahead– wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 In the middle of the living beings was something like burning coals of fire or like torches. It moved back and forth among the living beings. It was bright, and lightning was flashing out of the fire. 14 The living beings moved backward and forward as quickly as flashes of lightning. 15 Then I looked, and I saw one wheel on the ground beside each of the four beings. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their construction was like gleaming jasper, and all four wheels looked alike. Their structure was like a wheel within a wheel. 17 When they moved they would go in any of the four directions they faced without turning as they moved. 18 Their rims were high and awesome, and the rims of all four wheels were full of eyes all around. 19 When the living beings moved, the wheels beside them moved; when the living beings rose up from the ground, the wheels rose up too. 20 Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise up beside them because the spirit of the living being was in the wheel. 21 When the living beings moved, the wheels moved, and when they stopped moving, the wheels stopped. When they rose up from the ground, the wheels rose up from the ground; the wheels rose up beside them because the spirit of the living being was in the wheel. 22 Over the heads of the living beings was something like a platform, glittering awesomely like ice, stretched out over their heads. 23 Under the platform their wings were stretched out, each toward the other. Each of the beings also had two wings covering its body. 24 When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings– it was like the sound of rushing waters, or the voice of the Sovereign One, or the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings. 25 Then there was a voice from above the platform over their heads when they stood still. 26 Above the platform over their heads was something like a sapphire shaped like a throne. High above on the throne was a form that appeared to be a man. 27 I saw an amber glow like a fire enclosed all around from his waist up. From his waist down I saw something that looked like fire. There was a brilliant light around it, 28 like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds after the rain. This was the appearance of the surrounding brilliant light; it looked like the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I threw myself face down, and I heard a voice speaking.
• Ezek 11:24 : 24 Then a wind lifted me up and carried me to the exiles in Babylonia, in the vision given to me by the Spirit of God. Then the vision I had seen went up from me.
• Dan 10:5-9 : 5 I looked up and saw a man clothed in linen; around his waist was a belt made of gold from Ufaz. 6 His body resembled yellow jasper, and his face had an appearance like lightning. His eyes were like blazing torches; his arms and feet had the gleam of polished bronze. His voice thundered forth like the sound of a large crowd. 7 Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men who were with me did not see it. On the contrary, they were overcome with fright and ran away to hide. 8 I alone was left to see this great vision. My strength drained from me, and my vigor disappeared; I was without energy. 9 I listened to his voice, and as I did so I fell into a trance-like sleep with my face to the ground. 10 Then a hand touched me and set me on my hands and knees.
• Joel 2:28-29 : 28 An Outpouring of the Spirit(3:1) After all of this I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your elderly will have prophetic dreams; your young men will see visions. 29 Even on male and female servants I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
• John 16:7 : 7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.
• John 18:14 : 14 (Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.)
• Acts 9:10-17 : 10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision,“Ananias,” and he replied,“Here I am, Lord.” 11 Then the Lord told him,“Get up and go to the street called‘Straight,’ and at Judas’ house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he may see again.” 13 But Ananias replied,“Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call on your name!” 15 But the Lord said to him,“Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and said,“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
• Acts 18:9 : 9 The Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night,“Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent,
• Acts 22:17-21 : 17 When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord saying to me,‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 I replied,‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing nearby, approving, and guarding the cloaks of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then he said to me,‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
• Acts 23:11 : 11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said,“Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
• Acts 26:13-19 : 13 about noon along the road, Your Majesty, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining everywhere around me and those traveling with me. 14 When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself by kicking against the goads.’ 15 So I said,‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord replied,‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance as a servant and witness to the things you have seen and to the things in which I will appear to you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
• 1 Cor 6:12 : 12 Flee Sexual Immorality“All things are lawful for me”– but not everything is beneficial.“All things are lawful for me”– but I will not be controlled by anything.
• 1 Cor 10:23 : 23 Live to Glorify God“Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial.“Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds others up.
• 2 Cor 8:10 : 10 So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give,
• 2 Cor 11:16-30 : 16 Paul’s Sufferings for Christ I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness. 18 Since many are boasting according to human standards, I too will boast. 19 For since you are so wise, you put up with fools gladly. 20 For you put up with it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone behaves arrogantly toward you, if someone strikes you in the face. 21 (To my disgrace I must say that we were too weak for that!) But whatever anyone else dares to boast about(I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ?(I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times. 24 Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with a rod. Once I received a stoning. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea. 26 I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers, 27 in hard work and toil, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing. 28 Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with indignation? 30 If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show my weakness.