independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
The third heaven — a boast told in the third person 12:1–6
vv. 1–4 — visions and revelations: the rapture, fourteen years past
1
Καυχᾶσθαι δεῖ·independent — the forced boast — the fool's speech resumes
οὐ συμφέρον μέν,independent — verbless concession — μέν answered by δέ
ἐλεύσομαι δὲ εἰς ὀπτασίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεις κυρίου.independent — the new topic — κυρίου as source
2
οἶδα ἄνθρωπον ἐν Χριστῷ πρὸ ἐτῶν δεκατεσσάρων —independent — the third-person veil — Paul of himself
εἴτε ἐν σώματι οὐκ οἶδα,independent — parenthesis — the mode left open
εἴτε ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματος οὐκ οἶδα,independent — parenthesis — the alternative equally unknown
ὁ θεὸς οἶδεν —independent — God's knowledge against Paul's ignorance
ἁρπαγέντα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἕως τρίτου οὐρανοῦ.participial — complement of οἶδα — divine passive, τὸν τοιοῦτον resuming ἄνθρωπον
3
καὶ οἶδα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἄνθρωπον —independent — the resumptive restatement, building to the climax
εἴτε ἐν σώματι εἴτε χωρὶς τοῦ σώματος οὐκ οἶδα,independent — the parenthesis repeated — χωρίς for ἐκτός
ὁ θεὸς οἶδεν —independent — the refrain of reticence
4
ὅτι ἡρπάγη εἰς τὸν παράδεισονcontent — the content of the knowing — the third heaven now named Paradise
καὶ ἤκουσεν ἄρρητα ῥήματαcontent — coordinate content — the revelation auditory
ἃ οὐκ ἐξὸν ἀνθρώπῳ λαλῆσαι.relative — ἐξόν with implied ἐστίν — the boast self-cancelling: what he heard may not be told
vv. 5–6 — the boast declined: only weaknesses
5
ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοιούτου καυχήσομαι,independent — the veil kept — boasting of the 'other' self
ὑπὲρ δὲ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐ καυχήσομαιindependent — the antithesis — ἐμαυτοῦ against τοῦ τοιούτου
εἰ μὴ ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις.phrase modifier — εἰ μή — the lone allowable ground
6
ἐὰν γὰρ θελήσω καυχήσασθαι,conditional — protasis — leans on the apodosis below
οὐκ ἔσομαι ἄφρων,independent — apodosis — the folly is feigned, not real
ἀλήθειαν γὰρ ἐρῶ·cause — the ground — the boast would be factual, unlike the rivals'
φείδομαι δέ,independent — the abstention — for the readers' sake
μή τις εἰς ἐμὲ λογίσηταιpurpose — negative purpose — μή + subjunctive
ὑπὲρ ὃ βλέπει με ἢ ἀκούει ἐξ ἐμοῦ.relative — ὑπὲρ ὅ — the limit: only the observable Paul counts
The thorn in the flesh — grace sufficient, power in weakness 12:7–10
vv. 7–8 — the thorn given, its removal thrice begged
7
καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων.independent — anacoluthon — the dangling dative: readable with v. 6, here suspended and resumed by διό
διὸ ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι,purpose — fronted purpose — leans on ἐδόθη below; the notorious syntax of v. 7
ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί,independent — divine passive — God ordains what Satan inflicts; the σκόλοψ left unnamed
ἄγγελος Σατανᾶ,phrase modifier — apposition — the thorn personified as a hostile emissary
ἵνα με κολαφίζῃ,purpose — the messenger's work — present tense, repeated blows
ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι.purpose — the refrain repeated — the preventive purpose brackets the verse
8
ὑπὲρ τούτου τρὶς τὸν κύριον παρεκάλεσαindependent — the threefold petition — echoing Gethsemane
ἵνα ἀποστῇ ἀπ' ἐμοῦ.purpose — content of the plea — complete removal
vv. 9–10 — the oracle and the inversion: weakness embraced
9
καὶ εἴρηκέν μοι·independent — intensive perfect — the answer stands as an abiding word
Ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου·content — the Lord's answer — quoted under εἴρηκεν
ἡ γὰρ δύναμις ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελεῖται.cause — the oracle's ground — gnomic: weakness is power's arena
ἥδιστα οὖν μᾶλλον καυχήσομαι ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις μου,independent — the resolve — οὖν draws the consequence of the oracle
ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπ' ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ.purpose — ἐπισκηνόω — the Shekinah overtone: power tenting over weakness
10
διὸ εὐδοκῶ ἐν ἀσθενείαις,independent — the settled disposition — εὐδοκέω, positive delight
ἐν ὕβρεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν διωγμοῖς καὶ στενοχωρίαις,phrase modifier — the catalogue of sufferings continued
ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ·phrase modifier — the transvaluing qualifier — borne for him, not random woes
ὅταν γὰρ ἀσθενῶ,conditional — ὅταν — indefinite temporal, protasis-style: leans on the line below
τότε δυνατός εἰμι.independent — the paradox — the seal of the whole fool's speech
The signs of an apostle — nothing inferior 12:11–13
11
Γέγονα ἄφρων·independent — the veil dropped — perfect: he now stands as the fool
ὑμεῖς με ἠναγκάσατε.independent — the blame pinned — emphatic ὑμεῖς
ἐγὼ γὰρ ὤφειλον ὑφ' ὑμῶν συνίστασθαι·cause — the ground — imperfect ὤφειλον, an obligation they failed
οὐδὲν γὰρ ὑστέρησα τῶν ὑπερλίαν ἀποστόλων,cause — the deeper ground — parity with the ironic 'super-apostles' (cf. 11:5)
εἰ καὶ οὐδέν εἰμι.conditional — εἰ καί — backward concession: parity affirmed, worth disclaimed
12
τὰ μὲν σημεῖα τοῦ ἀποστόλου κατειργάσθη ἐν ὑμῖν ἐν πάσῃ ὑπομονῇ,independent — divine passive — ὑπομονή placed first among the credentials
σημείοις τε καὶ τέρασιν καὶ δυνάμεσιν.phrase modifier — datives of means — the standard triad (cf. Acts 2:22; Heb 2:4)
13
τί γάρ ἐστιν ὃ ἡσσώθητε ὑπὲρ τὰς λοιπὰς ἐκκλησίας,independent — the rhetorical question — internal relative kept on one line
εἰ μὴ ὅτι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ οὐ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν;content — εἰ μὴ ὅτι — the sole 'deprivation': his refusal of support
χαρίσασθέ μοι τὴν ἀδικίαν ταύτην.independent — biting irony — the mock apology
The third visit — a father who will not burden his children 12:14–18
vv. 14–15 — the announcement and the parental maxim
14
Ἰδοὺ τρίτον τοῦτο ἑτοίμως ἔχω ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς,independent — the announcement — ἑτοίμως ἔχω, 'I stand ready'
καὶ οὐ καταναρκήσω·independent — the settled policy reaffirmed for the coming visit
οὐ γὰρ ζητῶ τὰ ὑμῶν ἀλλὰ ὑμᾶς,cause — the ground — persons, not property
οὐ γὰρ ὀφείλει τὰ τέκνα τοῖς γονεῦσιν θησαυρίζειν,cause — the maxim of family economy — gnomic present
ἀλλὰ οἱ γονεῖς τοῖς τέκνοις.phrase modifier — ellipsis — the obligation reversed: Paul the providing father
15
ἐγὼ δὲ ἥδιστα δαπανήσω καὶ ἐκδαπανηθήσομαι ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν.independent — the father's expenditure — active and passive, to the last
εἰ περισσοτέρως ὑμᾶς ἀγαπῶν,conditional — protasis — εἰ with the participle ἀγαπῶν; leans on the question below
ἧσσον ἀγαπῶμαι;independent — the wounded question — greater love, lesser return
vv. 16–18 — the charge of craft answered: Titus the exhibit
16
ἔστω δέ,independent — concessive imperative — 'granted'
ἐγὼ οὐ κατεβάρησα ὑμᾶς·independent — the conceded fact — even opponents admit it
ἀλλὰ ὑπάρχων πανοῦργοςparticipial — sentence-opening participle — the opponents' insinuation begins
δόλῳ ὑμᾶς ἔλαβον.independent — the slander quoted from the rivals' lips — dismantled in vv. 17–18
17
μή τινα ὧν ἀπέσταλκα πρὸς ὑμᾶς,independent — casus pendens — τινα suspended, resumed by δι' αὐτοῦ
δι' αὐτοῦ ἐπλεονέκτησα ὑμᾶς;independent — μή expects 'no' — no envoy exploited them
18
παρεκάλεσα Τίτονindependent — the test case named
καὶ συναπέστειλα τὸν ἀδελφόν·independent — the witness alongside (cf. 8:18–22)
μήτι ἐπλεονέκτησεν ὑμᾶς Τίτος;independent — μήτι expects 'no'
οὐ τῷ αὐτῷ πνεύματι περιεπατήσαμεν;independent — οὐ expects 'yes' — identical conduct
οὐ τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἴχνεσιν;independent — elliptical — the verb carried over; the close of the rebuttal
Fear for the church — edification, not self-defense 12:19–21
v. 19 — the misreading corrected: all of it before God, for their building
19
Πάλαι δοκεῖτεindependent — the possible misreading of the whole defense
ὅτι ὑμῖν ἀπολογούμεθα;content — the supposed content — the Corinthians as judges, denied
κατέναντι θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ λαλοῦμεν·independent — coram Deo — the true tribunal
τὰ δὲ πάντα, ἀγαπητοί, ὑπὲρ τῆς ὑμῶν οἰκοδομῆς.independent — verbless — the aim named, with the tender vocative
vv. 20–21 — the double fear: what he may find, and whom he may mourn
20
φοβοῦμαι γὰρindependent — the pastoral dread — one verb governs vv. 20–21
μή πως ἐλθὼν οὐχ οἵους θέλω εὕρω ὑμᾶς,content — fear-clause — μή πως + subjunctive; ἐλθών temporal within
κἀγὼ εὑρεθῶ ὑμῖν οἷον οὐ θέλετε,content — the mirrored fear — finder and found exchanged
μή πως ἔρις,phrase modifier — the vice column opens — μή πως with 'there be' implied
ζῆλος,phrase modifier — party-spirit and rivalry
θυμοί,phrase modifier — the plural — flares of temper
ἐριθεῖαι,phrase modifier — factious self-seeking
καταλαλιαί,phrase modifier — open defamation
ψιθυρισμοί,phrase modifier — covert gossip — the twin of open slander
φυσιώσεις,phrase modifier — the Corinthian puffing-up (cf. 1 Cor 4–5; 8:1)
ἀκαταστασίαι·phrase modifier — the chaos these vices breed — the column's close
21
μὴ πάλιν ἐλθόντος μου ταπεινώσῃ με ὁ θεός μου πρὸς ὑμᾶς,content — the deepest fear — genitive absolute ἐλθόντος μου; πάλιν recalls the painful visit
καὶ πενθήσω πολλοὺς τῶν προημαρτηκότωνcontent — coordinate subjunctive — mourning as for the dead
καὶ μὴ μετανοησάντων ἐπὶ τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ καὶ πορνείᾳ καὶ ἀσελγείᾳparticipial — the participle chain — unrepentance is what makes the case grievous
ᾗ ἔπραξαν.relative — ᾗ — dative by attraction; the somber close propelling ch. 13
Analysis. The chapter falls into two halves, and the colors show the seam. In vv. 1–10 the fool's speech reaches its summit and inverts: short flush-left purple main clauses carry a story told at arm's length — οἶδα ἄνθρωπον ἐν Χριστῷ, with the doubled parenthesis 'whether in the body I do not know … God knows' hanging as coordinate asides — until the rapture's climax (Paradise, unspeakable words) is immediately declined as a boast (v. 5) and countered by the thorn: a suspended dative fragment (καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων, dashed) opens v. 7, a fronted ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι leans forward on ἐδόθη, and the Lord's abiding answer (perfect εἴρηκεν) hangs as quoted content — 'my grace suffices; power is perfected in weakness' — resolving into the paradox ὅταν ἀσθενῶ, τότε δυνατός εἰμι. Verses 11–21 then descend from irony (the signs of an apostle; 'forgive me this wrong!') through the third-visit announcement with its parental maxim and the rebuttal of the craftiness charge (Titus the exhibit, a volley of flush-left questions), to the fear-clauses of vv. 20–21, where an eight-item vice column hangs verbless under a single φοβοῦμαι. Cruxes the layout takes a side on, named honestly: (1) the σκόλοψ — whether a bodily ailment (eye disease, malaria, epilepsy have all been urged), the persecuting opponents, or a recurrent temptation — is left undefined, as Paul leaves it; the layout only sets τῇ σαρκί with the giving and ἄγγελος Σατανᾶ as apposition, which fits an embodied affliction without excluding personal adversaries. (2) The v. 7 syntax: καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων is rendered as an anacoluthic fragment — readable with v. 6's 'sees/hears of me,' but here suspended and resumed by διό, with the fronted purpose clause leaning on ἐδόθη. (3) The third-person narration of vv. 2–5 is taken as Paul's own experience under a deliberate veil — the τοιοῦτος of v. 5 and the first-person thorn of v. 7 close the circle — so the 'such a one / myself' antithesis is laid out as rhetorical distancing, not two different men.