He tells of his incomparable visions, but for humility likes better to talk of his infirmity, putting the faults in the Corinthians for that he is fain thus to rehearse his own commendations; wherein again he reasons the matter with them like a father, why they should prefer those false Apostles before him; and fears lest at his coming he shall be compelled to excommunicate many of them.He tells of his incomparable visions, but for humility likes better to talk of his infirmity, putting the faults in the Corinthians for that he is fain thus to rehearse his own commendations; wherein again he reasons the matter with them like a father, why they should prefer those false Apostles before him; and fears lest at his coming he shall be compelled to excommunicate many of them.✦
If I must glory (it is not expedient in deed) but I will come to the visions and revelations of our Lord.IF I must glorie (it is not expedient in deede) but I wil come to the visions and reuelations of our Lord.¶✦Si gloriari oportet (non expedit quidem), veniam autem ad visiones et revelationes Domini.
2I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not: or out of the body, I know not: God doth know) such a one raptum: caught up, carried away even to the third heaven.I know a man in Christ aboue fourtene yeres agoe (whether in the body, I know not: or out of the body, I know not: God doth know) such a one rapt euen to the third heauen.✦Scio hominem in Christo ante annos quatuordecim, sive in corpore nescio, sive extra corpus nescio, Deus scit, raptum hujusmodi usque ad tertium cælum.
3And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God doth know)And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God doth know)✦Et scio hujusmodi hominem sive in corpore, sive extra corpus nescio, Deus scit :
4that he was rapt into Paradise: and heard secret words, which it is not lawful for a man to speak.that he was rapt into Paradise: & heard secrete wordes, which it is not lawful for a man to speake.✦quoniam raptus est in paradisum : et audivit arcana verba, quæ non licet homini loqui.
5For such an one I will glory: but for my self I will glory nothing, saving in my infirmities.For such an one I wil glorie: but for my self I wil glorie nothing, sauing in my infirmities.Pro hujusmodi gloriabor : pro me autem nihil gloriabor nisi in infirmitatibus meis.
6For and if I will glory, I shall not be foolish: for I shall say truth. but I parco: forbear, refrain, lest any man should esteem me above that which he seeth in me, or heareth any thing of me.For and if I wil glorie, I shal not be foolish: for I shal say truth. but I spare, lest any man should esteeme me aboue that which he seeth in me, or heareth any thing of me.✦Nam etsi voluero gloriari, non ero insipiens : veritatem enim dicam : parco autem, ne quis me existimet supra id quod videt in me, aut aliquid audit ex me.
7And lest the greatness of the revelations might extol me, there was given me a prick of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.And lest the greatnes of the reuelations might extoll me, there was giuen me a pricke of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.✦Et ne magnitudo revelationum extollat me, datus est mihi stimulus carnis meæ angelus Satanæ, qui me colaphizet.
8For the which thing thrice I besought our Lord, that it might depart from me:For the which thing thrise I besought our Lord, that it might depart from me:✦Propter quod ter Dominum rogavi ut discederet a me :
9and he said to me, My grace sufficeth thee, for power is perficitur: made perfect, brought to completion in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in mine infirmity, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.and he said to me, My grace sufficeth thee, for power is perfited in infirmitie. Gladly therfore wil I glorie in mine infirmitie, that the power of Christ may dwel in me.✦et dixit mihi : Sufficit tibi gratia mea : nam virtus in infirmitate perficitur. Libenter igitur gloriabor in infirmitatibus meis, ut inhabitet in me virtus Christi.
10For the which cause I please my self in infirmities, in contumeliis: insults, reproaches, abuses, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ. for when I am weak, then am I mighty.For the which cause I please my self in infirmities, in contumelies, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ. for when I am weake, then am I mightie.✦Propter quod placeo mihi in infirmitatibus meis, in contumeliis, in necessitatibus, in persecutionibus, in angustiis pro Christo : cum enim infirmor, tunc potens sum.
11I am become foolish: you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended of you: for I have been nothing less than they that are above measure Apostles: although I am nothing.I am become foolish: you haue compelled me. For I ought to haue been commended of you: for I haue been nothing lesse then they that are aboue measure Apostles: although I am nothing.¶✦Factus sum insipiens, vos me coëgistis. Ego enim a vobis debui commendari : nihil enim minus fui ab iis, qui sunt supra modum Apostoli : tametsi nihil sum :
12Yet the signs of my Apostleship have been done upon you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.Yet the signes of my Apostleship haue been done vpon you in al patience, in signes & wonders and mighty deedes.¶✦signa tamen apostolatus mei facta sunt super vos in omni patientia, in signis, et prodigiis, et virtutibus.
13For what is there that you had less than the other churches: but that I my self have not burdened you? Pardon me this injuriam: bodily harm; wrong, affront, injustice.For what is there that you had lesse then the other churches: but that I my self haue not burdened you? Pardon me this iniurie.✦Quid est enim, quod minus habuistis præ ceteris ecclesiis, nisi quod ego ipse non gravavi vos ? donate mihi hanc injuriam.
14Behold, now the third time I am ready to come to you: and I will not be burdenous unto you. For I seek not the things that are yours: but you. For neither ought the children lay up treasures for the parents, but the parents for the children.Behold, now the third time I am ready to come to you: and I wil not be burdenous vnto you. For I seke not the things that are yours: but you. For neither ought the children lay vp treasures for the parents, but the parents for the children.✦Ecce tertio hoc paratus sum venire ad vos : et non ero gravis vobis. Non enim quæro quæ vestra sunt, sed vos. Nec enim debent filii parentibus thesaurizare, sed parentes filiis.
15But I most gladly will bestow, and will my self moreover be bestowed for your souls: although loving you more, I am loved less.But I most gladly wil bestow, & wil my self moreouer be bestowed for your soules: although louing you more, I am loued lesse.✦Ego autem libentissime impendam, et super impendar ipse pro animabus vestris : licet plus vos diligens, minus diligar.
16But be it so: I have not burdened you: but being crafty, I took you by guile.But be it so: I haue not burdened you: but being craftie, I tooke you by guile.✦Sed esto : ego vos non gravavi : sed cum essem astutus, dolo vos cepi.
17Have I circumveni: evaded, got around; overreached, defrauded, cheated you by any of them whom I sent to you?Haue I circumuented you by any of them whom I sent to you?✦Numquid per aliquem eorum, quos misi ad vos, circumveni vos ?
18I requested Titus, and I sent with him a brother. Did Titus circumvent you? walked we not with one spirit? not in the self same steps?I requested Titus, and I sent with him a brother. Did Titus circumuent you? walked we not with one spirit? not in the self same steppes?Rogavi Titum, et misi cum illo fratrem. Numquid Titus vos circumvenit ? nonne eodem spiritu ambulavimus ? nonne iisdem vestigiis ?
19Of olim: all this while, this long time (by the Greek, "again") think you that we excuse our selves to you? Before God, in Christ we speak: but all things (my dearest) for your edifying.Of old thinke you that we excuse our selues to you? Before God, in Christ we speake: but al things (my deerest) for your edifying.✦Olim putatis quod excusemus nos apud vos ? coram Deo in Christo loquimur : omnia autem, carissimi, propter ædificationem vestram.
20For I fear lest perhaps when I come, I find you not such as I would: and I be found of you, such an one as you would not. lest perhaps contentions, æmulationes: imitations; rivalries, jealousies, animositates: angry passions, animosities, dissensions, detractiones: slanders, backbitings, whisperings, inflationes: puffings up, prideful conceits, seditions be among you.For I feare lest perhaps when I come, I finde you not such as I would: and I be found of you, such an one as you would not. lest perhaps contentions, emulations, stomakings, dissensions, detractions, whisperings, swellings, seditions be among you.✦Timeo enim ne forte cum venero, non quales volo, inveniam vos : et ego inveniar a vobis, qualem non vultis : ne forte contentiones, æmulationes, animositates, dissensiones, detractiones, susurrationes, inflationes, seditiones sint inter vos :
21lest again when I come, God humble me among you: and I mourn many of them that sinned before, and have not done penance for the uncleanness and fornication and impudicitia: unchastity, lewdness that they have committed.lest againe when I come, God humble me among you: & I mourne many of them that sinned before, & haue not done penance for the vncleannes & fornication and incontinencie that they haue committed.✦ne iterum cum venero, humiliet me Deus apud vos, et lugeam multos ex iis qui ante peccaverunt, et non egerunt pœnitentiam super immunditia, et fornicatione, et impudicitia, quam gesserunt.
Annotationsfrom the original 1582 Rheims New Testament
1Visions. St. Cyprian (ep. 69. nu. 4.) complaineth that the Adversaries of God's Church and Priests, give no credit to visions. but their incredulity is much more in our days, that condemn all such revelations, though they be reported and recorded for most certain, of holy St. Gregory, St. Bede, or who else so ever. Yea they are so wicked in this case, that the vision which the holy author of the book of Machabees calleth fide dignum, worthy of credit, is one cause why they deny the whole book to be Canonical: and as well might they for this vision deny all St. Paul's Epistles, and for the like, the Acts of the Apostles, Act. 9. 10. 11. 12. 27: and the Gospel it self, Mat. 1, 20. 2, 13, 19.Visions. S. Cyprian (ep. 69. nu. 4.) complaineth that the Aduersaries of Gods Church and Priestes, giue no credit to visions. but their incredulitie is much more in our daies, that condemne al such reuelations, though they be reported and recorded for most certaine, of holy S. Gregorie, S. Bede, or who els so euer. Yea they are so wicked in this case, that the vision which the holy author of the booke of Machabees calleth fide dignum*, worthy of credit, is one cause why they deny the whole booke to be Canonical: and as wel might they for this vision deny al S. Paules Epistles, and for the like, the Actes of the Apostles, Act. 9. 10. 11. 12. 27: and the Gospel it self, Mat. 1, 20. 2, 13, 19.
11Above measure Apostles. Though all were in that they were Apostles, of one and the same order, yet we may see that some had marvelous great preeminence and privilege above others in the same office: specially St. Peter and St. John, whom St. Paul often calleth great Apostles, above measure or passing Apostles, the pillars, &c. 2 Cor. 11, 5. 12, 11. Gal. 2, 9.Aboue measure Apostles. Though al were in that they were Apostles, of one and the same order, yet we may see that some had maruelous great preeminence and priuilege aboue others in the same office: specially S. Peter and S. Iohn, whom S. Paul often calleth great Apostles, aboue measure or passing Apostles, the pillers, &c. 2 Cor. 11, 5. 12, 11. Gal. 2, 9.
12In signs. Miracles be necessary, and be great signs of truth, when it is first newly taught. And therefore let all Catholic men hold fast that faith which was first preached and confirmed by miracles. as in England by St. Augustine, and in other nations by other holy Apostolic men. And let the Heretics that preach extraordinarily, newly, and otherwise than we received at our first conversion, show their calling and doctrine by miracles, or else let them be taken for false Apostles as they be.In signes. Miracles be necessarie, and be great signes of truth, when it is first newly taught. And therfore let al Catholike men hold fast that faith which was first preached and confirmed by miracles. as in England by S. Augustine, and in other nations by other holy Apostolike men. And let the Heretikes that preach extraordinarily, newly, and otherwise then we receiued at our first conuersion, shew their calling and doctrine by miracles, or els let them be taken for false Apostles as they be.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Facsimile available in two scans.