Bible

Here in the Bible Room today, we conclude the reading of II Corinthians with Session 5, the summaries of chapters 12 and 13.

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II Corinthians

Session 5

Chapter 12. Vision

It may not be necessary that I share with you what I am about to say,

• But I will tell you the vision I had with the Lord:
• Fourteen years ago, I saw a man, a believer, only God knows
• If he was in a physical body, or a spiritual body, taken up into
• Paradise; I know this man, personally, and God knows whether
• He was in a physical, or spiritual body; In Paradise he heard
• Words that are impossible for a man to repeat;
• Now I am not worthy to claim it, but I am now telling you:
• I am that man; I will never exaggerate what I heard and saw,
• But I will speak only the truth; And I do not wish others to
• Think of me as any more than what they see and hear me say;
• However, because of all the things I learned in Paradise, a
• Demon from Satan has come to afflict my body, attempting to
• Limit me in what I might otherwise be able to achieve; Three
• Times I have asked the Lord to deliver me from this affliction,
• But each time He has told me He would show me His strength
• Through this infirmity; So, I will continue to preach, just as I
• Am, with the power of Christ enabling me; Through this, I
• Have learned to see the value in every trouble I have, for then
• I can see Christ giving me strength;
• You may now be thinking that I am bragging and sounding
• Arrogant, but I thought you needed to hear what I have said;
• Now, knowing all this, you can be assured that I am more than
• Equal to any of the important apostles that have ministered to
• You, though in myself I am nothing; When I was there with
• You, you witnessed all the miracles, signs, and wonders, so you
• Know our authority; However, there was one thing in which I
• Was wrong: That was in not asking you for your support, as
• This error kept you from receiving the blessing of giving, so I
• Ask your forgiveness for that oversight;
• Now I am ready to make my third visit to you, but this time I
• Am coming only to support you; I hope you were not offended
• By my sending Titus and the other men to visit you, as I did
• Not intend to put pressure on you; We are all striving to serve
• The same purpose and the same spirit, and everything we do is
• Intended for your benefit and encouragement;
• When I come to you, I want to find you as I expect you to be,
• And I want you to find me as you expect me to be, for I do not
• Want there to be any disagreements or arguments; But I will
• Sincerely mourn for all those who have backslidden and not yet
• Repented of their sins.

Chapter 13. Examine

This next visit will be my third with you, but since I was there,

• I have heard from two or three witnesses telling me what has
• Been happening among you; And I will tell you in this letter
• That when I get there, I will not spare you the truth—
• I know that many of you have been sinning; And I know that
• You have been looking for the proof that Christ is speaking
• Through me; And what He is saying to you are strong words,
• Coming from the strength of the power of God; And, though
• We are weak, we are made strong for you through Him;
• Examine yourselves to determine if any of you have given up
• And abandoned your walk of faith in Jesus Christ; I sincerely
• Hope that you are avoiding all evil behaviors, so that I will not
• Need to bring harsh words of condemnation to you; I prefer to
• Speak only with gentle words of approval for your strong faith;
• Since I am not present with you, I will use strong words in this
• Letter, so that when I am present with you, I can avoid harsh
• Criticism and be more positive in the way I use the authority
• The Lord has given me to build you up;
• Now, my fellow believers, I will end this letter; Continue to
• Encourage one another with a holy kiss as you live in peace
• With God; All the saints send their greetings;
• May you know the grace and love of God through the Lord
• Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
• Amen.

End of Session 5 of the book of II Corinthians.

(This concludes our summaries of the book of II Corinthians.)