12:10When we are strong in abilities or resources, we are tempted to do God’s work on our own, and that can lead to pride. When we are weak, allowing Gad to fill us with Ais power, then we are stronger than we could ever be on our own. God does not intend for us to be weak, passive, or ineffective—life provides enough hindrances and setbacks without us creating them. When those obstacles come, we must depend on God. Only his power will make us effective for him and will help us do work that has fasting value.
Life Application Study Bible2 CorinthiansChapter 12
2 Corinthians 12
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1976, 1977, 1978
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
122 Corinthians 12
Paul's Vision and His Thorn in the Flesh
112 This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the LORD. 2I* was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows.
3Yes, only11-26 Greek from false brothers. 12:2 Greek / know a man in Christ who.41:15 Paul reminds the Corinthians that the false teachers andhypocritical leaders will one day “get the punishment their wickeddeeds deserve.” The principle of judgment applies to all who speakon God's behalf. The apostle James said that teachers will bejudged by the LORD with closer scrutiny than will those who situnder their teaching (James 3:1). If it is not already your practice,each time you sit down with the Scriptures to prepare a lesson ora sermon, spend some quiet moments in prayer asking the HolySpirit to guide your preparation.11:22, 23 Paul presented his credentials to counteract thecharges that the false teachers were making against him. He feltfoolish boasting like this, but his list of credentials would silenceany doubts about his authority. Paul wanted to keep the Corinthi-ans from slipping under the spell of the false teachers and turningaway from the Good News. Paul also gave a list of his credentialsin his letter to the Philippians (see Philippians 3:4-8).11:23-29 Paul was angry that the false teachers had impressedand deceived the Corinthians (11:13-15). Therefore, he hadreestablished his credibility and authority by listing the trials hehad endured in his service for Christ. Some of these trials arerecorded in the book of Acts (Acts 14:19; 16:22-24). Because Paulwrote this letter during his third missionary journey (Acts 18:23-21:17), his trials weren't over. He would experience yet furtherdifficulties and humiliations for the cause of Christ (see Acts21:30-33; 22:24-30). Paul was sacrificing his life for the GoodNews, something the false teachers would never do. The trials andhurts-we experience for Christ's sake build our character, demon-strate our faith, and prepare us for further service to the LORD.
God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4that I was caught up* to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell. 5That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, ’ even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8Three different times I begged the LORD to take it away. 9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians
1111You have made me act like a fool—boasting like this.* You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all. 12When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For J patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you. 13The only thing I failed to do, which I doin the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong! 14NowIam coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children. 15I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me. 16Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and 12:3-4 Greek But I know such a man, ‘that he was caught up, 12:11 Some manuscripts omit boasting ike this. took advantage of you by trickery. 17But how? Did any of the men J sent to you take advantage of you? 1®When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way. 19Perhaps you think we're saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ's servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you. 20For I am afraid that when I come I won't like what I find, and you won't like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. 21Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.
Textual footnotes
- shipwrecked three times, and he would face another accident on
- his voyage to Rome (see Acts 27). By this time, Paul had probably
- made at least eight or nine voyages.
- 11:28, 29 Not only did Paul face beatings and dangers, he also
- carried the daily concern for the young churches, worrying that
- they were staying true to the Good News and free from false
- teachings and inner strife. Paul was concerned for individuals in
- the churches he served. If God has placed you in a position of
- jeadership and authority, treat people with Paul's kind of empathy
- and concern.
- 11:32, 33 King Aretas, king of the Nabateans (Edomites) from
- Nabatean segment of the population in Damascus. Somehow the
- Jews in Damascus had been able to enlist this governor to help
- them try to capture Paul (see Acts 9:22-25). Paul gave a “for
- instance” here, describing his escape from Damascus in a basket
- lowered from a window in the city wall. Paul recounted this inci-
- dent to show what he had endured for Christ. The false teachers
- couldn't make such claims.
- 12:2, 3 Paul continued his “boasting” by telling about visions
- and revelations he had received from the LORD. Paul explained that
- 12:9 B.C. to A.D. 40, had appointed a governor to oversee the
Life Application Notes 6 notes
12:11-15Paul was not merely revealing his feelings; he was defending his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul was hurt that the church in Corinth doubted and questioned him, so he defended himself for the cause of the Good News, not to satisty his ego. When you are “put on trial,” do you think only about saving your reputation or are you more concerned about what people will think about Christ?
12:13Paul explained that the only thing he did in the other churches that he didn’t do in Corinth was to become a burden— to ask the believers to feed and house him. When he said, “Forgive me for this wrong,” he was clearly being sarcastic. He actually did more for the Corinthians than for any other church, but sti! they misunderstood him
12:14Paul had founded the church in Corinth on his first visit there (Acts 18:1). He subsequently made a second visit (2:1). He was planning what would be his third visit (see also 13:1). Paul explained that, as before. he didn’t want to be paid, fed, or housed: he only wanted the believers to be nourished with the spiritual food he would feed them.
12:16-19Although Paul asked nothing of the Corinthian believers, some doubters were still saying that Paul must have been sneaky and made money from them somehow. But Paul again explained that everything he did for the believers was for their edification, not to enrich himself.
12:20,21After reading this catalog of sins, it is hard to believe that these are the people that Paul said possessed great gifts and excelied as leaders (8:7). Paul feared that the practices of wicked Corinth had invaded the congregation. He wrote sternly, hoping that they would straighten out their lives before he arrived. We must live differently from unbelievers, not letting secular society dictate how we are to treat others. Don’t let culture influence your behavior.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 1977
he didn’t know if he was taken up in his body or in his spirit, but he had been in paradise (“the third heaven,” perhaps referring to the highest part of the heavens, beyond the atmosphere and the stars, where God himself lives). This incident cannot be positively identified with a recorded event in Pau!’s career, although some think this may have been when he was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19, 20). Paul told about this incident to show that he had been uniquely touched by God. 12:7, 8 We don't know what Paul's thorn in the flesh was because he doesn’t tell us. Some have suggested that it was malaria, epilepsy, or a disease of the eyes (see Galatians 4:13-15). Whatever the case, it was a chronic and debilitating problem, which at times kept him from working. This thorn was a hindrance to his ministry, and he prayed for its removal; but God refused. Paul was a very self-sufficient person, so this thorn must have been difficult for him. Three times Paul prayed for healing and did not receive it. He received, however, things far greater because he received greater grace from God, a stronger character, humility, and an ability to empathize with others. In addition, it benefited those around him as they saw God at work in his life. God, according to his sovereign plan, doesn’t heal some believers of their physical ailments. We don't know why some are spared and others aren't. God chooses according to his divine purposes. Our task is to pray, to believe, and to trust. Paul is living proof that holy jiving and courageous faith do not ensure instant physical healing. When we pray for heating, we must trust our bodies to God's care. We Must recognize that nothing separates us from his love (Romans 8:35-39) and that our spiritual condition is always more important than our physical condition. 12:9 Although God did not remove Paul's affliction, he promised to demonstrate his power in Paul. The fact that God’s power is displayed in our weaknesses shoutd give us courage and hope. As we recognize our limitations, we will depend more on God for our effectiveness rather than on our own energy, effort. or talent. Our limitations net only help develop Christian character but also deepen our worship, because in admitting them, we affirm God’s strength.