2 Corinthians 12 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

2 Corinthians 12

Paul’s Visions and His Thorn

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,¹ 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.

Concern for the Corinthian Church

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.

Footnotes

[1] 12:7 Or hears from me, even because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited

Commentary

v1-5: Paul's boasting was not in visions and revelations. Doubtless the false apostles would have spoken much about their visions in an attempt to confirm their authority, compare 11.15. They seek to transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, their boast is according to the flesh.

Paul does refer here to his own experiences, but puts them into the third person, as if they were the experience of another. Yet he was "in Christ", perhaps in contrast to many who did not really know Christ.

Paul's boast was simply his weakness. He could have spoken of certain experiences, but he did not want to attract others to himself, but to Christ.

v6: Had Paul boasted in these things, he would have exalted himself in the eyes of others; but he chose not to do so. We are not to exalt ourselves, or to make people think more of us.

v7: Paul understood the Lord's ways, and the Lord's work in his own life, to keep him humble. The Lord sent a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, a balance to the abundance of revelations. Satan's scheme to bring down the servant of God was turned upside down by the power and grace of God.

v8-10: Paul had to learn to accept the thorn, relying on God's grace, knowing God's strength in his physical weakness. Consequently, his boast was in his infirmities; he was able to take pleasure in his infirmities, referring to 11.23-28, because he knew Christ's strength. We need to learn the spiritual attitude to trials and persecutions. The multitude of trials, experienced in the grace of God, leads us into a deeper relationship with God.

v11-13: Paul's defence of his apostleship. This is a theme throughout the letter, and here Paul brings things to a clear conclusion.

He had already spoken of his own apostleship (1.1); his visit to bring a "second benefit" (1.15); his authority in receiving back a repentant person (2.8-10); the proof of changes lives (3.1-3); his claim of being called by God (6.4-10). Here he speaks of the "things that mark an apostle", sign and wonders and miracles. The difference between him and the "super-apostles" was that he did not make himself a burden to them. Where Paul differed was especially in godly character. The Corinthians seemed to miss that in favour of miracles and eloquence.

v14: Paul's on-going concern; he had not been a burden in the past, and he would not be a burden in the future. His concern, as a father, was to provide for them, to bring them into abundant spiritual blessings in Christ.

v15-16: Paul continued to fulfil his calling and responsibility, even though the Corinthians did not return his love. His 'trickery' was his open-handed-ness, his generosity, his preaching without demanding a material return.

v17-18: His blunt statement, that he was not a burden, nor was Titus, nor the unnamed brother; the false apostles were, by implication, a burden to them.

Paul uses gentle sarcasm, "Forgive me this wrong!" (v13), "I caught you by trickery!"; in reality he had been open and generous towards them.

Paul has total confidence in Titus, who walked in the same spirit, in the same steps. Elsewhere he has the same confidence in Timothy (Phil 2.19-20).

v19: His burden, from his first arrival in Corinth, was to see them strengthened. He had no hidden agenda, or false motives.

v20-21: Unspiritual attitudes and blatant disobedience persisted; Paul had exposed these things before. Perhaps some felt unhappy that he had done so, yet surely such things have to be exposed. Paul was concerned that some had not repented, and he lists various sins that they had continued in.