2 Corinthians 12
August 23
Reading: 2 Corinthians 12
1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven-- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise-- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses-- 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish-- that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.
In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul continues to defend his apostleship and then to explain his conduct. This always puts a person in a difficult position. A person defending his position and behavior inevitably looks defensive. It would be helpful to Paul if someone else could defend him, but who would be able to do so? Only Paul knows what Paul needs to explain. The Corinthians need the explaining because of their issues and their arrogance toward Paul. For all these reasons Paul finds himself in the unenviable position of explaining himself to the Corinthian church.
In the first six verses we read this strange account of “a man in Christ.” It is certain that, in the context of this letter, Paul is speaking of himself. Why then would he be writing in the third person? We do not really know. Possibly, Paul feels a bit like these experiences that he had with God were to a different person in a different world. Possibly, he did not want to be understood to be bragging about what happened to him. After all, he did not ask for it or seek it. The Lord gave him special revelation that has enabled him to lead as an apostle and to write Scripture.
In verses 7-10 Paul writes about his “thorn in the flesh.” My daughter, Katie, is sure that Paul must have had chronic eczema. That may have been. Whatever it was, Paul begged God for healing and did not receive it, not because of a lack of faith, but because God wanted Paul to trust Him and find that God’s “grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”
In the rest of the chapter (vss. 11-21) Paul is urging the Corinthian believers to wisely recognize his and Titus’ humble care for them and forsake “quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.” (vs. 20) Add to that his concern about “impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality” (vs. 21) and you have a complete picture of the sins that plagued the Corinthian church.