2 Corinthians 12:6 (DBY)

Passage

For if I shall desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will say [the] truth; but I forbear, lest any one should think as to me above what he sees me [to be], or whatever he may hear of me.

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 12:4 that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable things said which it is not allowed to man to utter.

2 Corinthians 12:5 Of such [a one] I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, unless in my weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:6 For if I shall desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will say [the] truth; but I forbear, lest any one should think as to me above what he sees me [to be], or whatever he may hear of me.

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

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

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 5's "Of such a one I will boast..." into verse 7's "And that I might not be exalted...", so "shall" 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 "shall" and "desire" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.