2 Corinthians 12:6 (ASV)

Passage

For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me [to be], or heareth from me.

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 12:4 how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

2 Corinthians 12:5 On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in [my] weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:6 For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me [to be], or heareth from me.

2 Corinthians 12:7 And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.

2 Corinthians 12:8 Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "should", "desire", "glory", "shall", "foolish", "speak", and "truth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "should" and "desire", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 5's "On behalf of such a one will..." into verse 7's "And by reason of the exceeding greatness...", so "should" and "desire" belong inside that flow. In 2 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "should" and "desire" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.