But now I’m going to go back to bragging, even though there’s nothing to be gained by it. I’m going to talk about visions and revelations from the Lord.
We also know that the Son of God has come and given us understanding so that we can know the God who is true. And we are in the true God by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
God has shown me amazing and wonderful things, but people shouldn’t think more of me because of those. In fact, so that I wouldn’t become overly proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to harass me.
I went because God showed me that he wanted me to go. I met privately with those who are respected as leaders. I presented to them the good news that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure that it wasn’t useless for me to keep presenting the good news that way.
I’ve made a fool of myself, but you forced me to. You should have been the ones to praise me. I’m not the least bit inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I’m nothing.
Here’s what I think would be the best thing for you to do. Last year you were the first ones to give, and you were even the first ones to want to give.
You say, “I have the right to do anything,” but not everything is helpful. “I have the right to do anything,” you say, but not everything builds us up.
But truly I tell you, it’s for your good that I’m going away. Unless I go away, the Helper won’t come to help you. But if I do go, I’ll send him to you.
Some of you are saying, “I have the right to do anything.” That may be true, but not everything is helpful. If you say, “I have the right to do anything,” you should also say, “But I won’t be controlled by anything.”
Brothers and sisters, if I came to you and spoke in an unknown language, what good would that do? If I really wanted to help you, I’d come with a revelation or insight or prophecy or teaching.
But he told me, “My grace is all you need, because my power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will gladly brag all the more about how weak I am, so that Christ’s power can rest on me.