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Childrens Book of 2 Corinthians
chapters 10-12

I have written this for children, based solely on the Word of God, but condensed for them... and used Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary for clarification of some words. My added comments are in italics..  there is a memory verse for chapters 10 and 12

chapter 10

Though we (the apostles) walk in physical bodies, we do not (make) war as those in the world do..(For our weapons are not carnal (swords, guns, spears) but mighty through God (faith, prayer, obedience). Put aside everything that is against the knowledge of God, and bring every thought into obedience of (the teachings of) Christ.

He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.

He that commends himself (as a worker or preacher of the Lord) is not approved (by Christ) but he who the Lord commends (he who the Lord gives the desire, opportunity, ability and results to do the work of the Lord according to the plan of the Lord for that person.)

Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 10:17 "..he that glories, let him glory in the Lord."

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Chapter 11

Bear with me, because I am jealous (concerned) over you as unto God because (by my preaching) you are betrothed to one husband, and I would present you to Christ..(that means that by Paul's preaching the Corinthians by faith have received the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and Paul would have them follow the teaching of the Lord Jesus until the day that they are with Jesus (either by death or by resurrection..  in the Corinthians case, it was on the day that they each died)

I fear that, just as the serpent deceived Eve, your minds might be changed from being devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ.

If he that comes to you preaches another Jesus, that is different from what we have preached to you, or if you listen to him about another spirit that is not the Holy Spirit, or about another gospel, (that is not the gospel of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ) then you might as well put up with him. (Paul is saying that the Corinthians were easily convinced by others to things that were not of the Lord Jesus)

Though I (Paul) am untrained in the way I speak, I have knowledge (of the gospel of Christ) and have taught you all things (concerning Christ).

As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this preaching.

These people (who come to you preaching another Jesus) are false apostles, deceivers, who make themselves apostles of Christ (which they are not)..  And no wonder, because Satan himself transforms himself into something which looks religious.  So it is no great thing if his workers also appear religious, but their end will be according to what they do (that means that though some appear to be Christians because of the way they speak, they are not really saved, but when the day comes that they die, they will be condemned because they did not believe in the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and they wanted instead to deceive those that believed, and lead them away from being obedient to Christ.)

You (the Corinthians) put up with fools (false teachers) because you think that you are wise.  Are they (the false teachers) Hebrews? so am I..  are they the seed (descendents) of Abraham? so am I.  I have been whipped by the Jews five times, I have been beaten with rods (big sticks), stoned once, three times I have been shipwrecked. I have often been in danger, I have often been tired, in pain, hungry and thirsty, and cold. 

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie.

no memory verse for this chapter.

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Chapter 12

(Paul's vision of heaven follows) I knew a man in Christ (Paul is speaking of himself in the third person) 14 years ago, but I (Paul) don't know if it was in the body, or out of the body (whether it was in a vision or not) but God knows.

This man was caught up to the third heaven (not the sky where the birds are, nor the universe where the stars and planets are, but the place where God is).  This man heard words that cannot be spoken, words that a man is not allowed to speak. 

Even though I would love to glory in what happened to this man, I will not have any man think of me more than what he sees of me, or more than what he hears me say.

So that I would not be too highly thought of by others, I was given a thorn in the flesh (something that was a trial to Paul, something that could interfere with his work of preaching the gospel)..  I (Paul) prayed to the Lord three times that this trial would leave him, but the Lord spoke to him saying "my grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in (your) weakness)

So I will have glory in my trial so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

When I am weak, then I am strong. Truly, the signs of an apostle were made known to you: patience, signs and wonders, and mighty deeds.

I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden to you.  We speak before God in Christ: dearly beloved, we do all things for your building up.

Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9 "And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

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V. Gross/Jan'07