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12 I need to say great things about myself. So, although it is not helpful, I am moving on to speak about how the Lord Jesus specially shows things to specific people. 2 Fourteen years ago, God took a certain Christian to the third level of heaven. I am not sure whether God took him there physically or in a dream or spiritually. Only God can be sure how it happened. 3 Now I will tell you more about that specific Christian. Again, I am not sure whether God took him to the third level of heaven physically or in a dream or spiritually. Only God can be sure how it happened. 4 God took that person into Paradise, the place in heaven where dead believers are. There, he heard amazing things that he cannot repeat to anyone. 5 I could say great things about that, since the person I have been talking about is me. However, I will only say great things about how feeble I am. 6 In fact, suppose that I did want to say great things about myself. Since I am speaking truthfully, I would still not be acting foolishly. However, I decide not to say great things about myself. That way, people can only characterize me by what they observe me saying and doing. 7 So then, in order that I might not become proud because God revealed such great things to me, he allowed me to suffer. Specifically, a spiritual being whom Satan sent made me suffer. That way, I might not become proud. 8 I asked the Lord Jesus three different times to make me stop suffering in that way. 9 He responded by saying to me, “When I act kindly to you, that is all you need. In fact, I make people fully powerful when they are feeble.” Therefore, I will most happily say more great things about how feeble I am. That way, the Messiah will always enable me to act powerfully. 10 So then, I am happy when bad things happen to me because I serve the Messiah. This includes when I am feeble, when people say bad things about me, when people hurt me, when people persecute me, and when I struggle. I am happy because God empowers me when I am feeble.
11 I have been speaking foolishly, which is what you forced me to do. You forced me because you should be saying that I am trustworthy, but you are not saying that. You should be saying that because I am just as great as any people who say that they represent the Messiah the best. That is true even though I am not great at all. 12 I persevered in acting in the ways that prove to you that I really am one whom the Messiah sent to represent him. I did powerful and amazing things. 13 Further, I did not treat you like you were less important than any other group of believers. The only way I acted differently with you was that I did not bother you by asking you for money. If that was actually wrong, please forgive me for doing it!
14 Pay attention! I am about to visit you for the third time. Yet again, I will not bother you by asking for money. That is because I want you to trust me and the Messiah. I do not want the things that you have. In fact, since I am like your parent, I should be saving money for you. Further, since you are like my children, you should not be saving money for me. 15 I will most happily do and experience anything to help you. When I love you more than I did before, you should not love me less than you did before.
16 You can agree, then, that I personally did not bother you by asking for money. However, perhaps I am a clever person. Maybe I somehow tricked you into giving me money. 17 However, I have not had anyone visit you who has acted for me by cheating you. 18 For example, I asked Titus to visit you, and I had a fellow believer go with him. You know that Titus did not cheat you. He and I live the same way and do the same things.
19 You should know that the reason why we have said these things is not to explain to you that I and those who serve with me are trustworthy. Rather, as those whom God has united to the Messiah, we have been saying what pleases God. Of course, fellow believers whom we love, we intend everything we say and do to help you grow. 20 I have said these things because I am concerned about what will happen when I visit. I am concerned that I will discover that you are not acting as I want you to act and that you will discover that I am not acting as you want me to act. I am concerned that you may be fighting with each other, being jealous of each other, being angry with each other, trying to control each other, saying bad things about each other, telling false stories about others, saying great things about yourselves, or stirring up crowds against each other. 21 I am concerned about what will happen when I visit you this third time. God may make me ashamed about you. Further, I may feel very sad about many people who have previously done what is wrong and have not stopped having improper sex.