Boastingis necessary,thoughit is not profitable;but I will goon to visionsand revelationsof the Lord.
And the Spiritliftedme up and broughtme in a visionby the Spiritof Godto the exilesin Chaldea.So the visionthat I had seenleftme.
He said,"HearnowMy words:Ifthere is a prophetamong you, I, the LORD,shall makeMyself knownto him in a vision.I shall speakwith him in a dream.
"But I tellyou the truth,it is to your advantagethat I goaway;for ifI do not go away,the Helperwill not cometo you; but ifI go,I will sendHim to you.
NowCaiaphaswas the one who had advisedthe Jewsthat it was expedientfor onemanto dieon behalfof the people.
And the Lordsaidto Paulin the nightby a vision,"Do not be afraid[any longer], but go on speakingand do not be silent;
But on the night[immediately] following,the Lordstoodat his side and said,"Take courage;for as you have solemnly witnessedto My causeat Jerusalem,soyou mustwitnessat Romealso."
Allthingsare lawful,but not allthingsare profitable.All thingsare lawful,but not all thingsedify.
But now,brethren,ifI cometo you speakingin tongues,whatwill I profityou unlessI speakto you eitherby wayof revelationorof knowledgeorof prophecyorof teaching?
Allthingsare lawfulfor me, but not all thingsare profitable.All thingsare lawfulfor me, but I will not be masteredby anything.
I have becomefoolish;you yourselvescompelledme. ActuallyI shouldhave been commendedby you, for in norespectwas I inferiorto the most eminentapostles,eventhoughI ama nobody.
On behalfof such a manI will boast;but on my ownbehalfI will not boast,exceptin regard to [my] weaknesses.
Because of the surpassing greatnessof the revelations,for this reason,to keepme from exaltingmyself, there was givenme a thornin the flesh,a messengerof Satanto tormentme-- to keepme from exaltingmyself!
And He has saidto me, "My graceis sufficientfor you, for poweris perfectedin weakness."Most gladly,therefore,I will ratherboastaboutmy weaknesses,sothat the powerof Christmay dwellin me.
I give[my] opinionin this matter, for thisis to your advantage,whowere the first to begina year agonot onlyto do[this], but alsoto desire[to do it].
For I neitherreceivedit from man,norwas I taughtit, but [I received it] througha revelationof JesusChrist.
It was becauseof a revelationthat I wentup; and I submittedto them the gospelwhichI preachamongthe Gentiles,but [I did so] in privateto thosewho were of reputation,for fearthat I might be running,orhad run,in vain.
that by revelationthere was made knownto me the mystery,as I wrote beforein brief.
For thiswe sayto you by the wordof the Lord,that we who are aliveand remainuntilthe comingof the Lord,will not precedethosewho have fallen asleep.
And we knowthat the Sonof Godhas come,and has givenus understandingsothat we may knowHim whois true;and we are in Him who is true,in His SonJesusChrist.Thisis the true Godand eternallife.
