Visions, the Thorn, and Sufficient Grace
Study note
Paul describes an extraordinary spiritual experience of being caught up to paradise, though he speaks of it in the third person out of humility. To prevent pride from these revelations, God allowed a 'thorn in the flesh,' a messenger of Satan to torment him. After three earnest prayers for its removal, God responded with one of Scripture's most treasured promises: 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Paul's response is to gladly boast in weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest upon him.
1 I have to keep bragging, even though nothing good comes from it. So let me tell you about visions and things the Lord revealed to me. It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know someone who belongs to Christ who, 14 years ago, was taken up all the way to the highest heaven. Whether he was in his body or out of his body, I have no idea -- only God knows. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 I know this person -- whether he was in his body or outside of his body, I truly cannot say, but God knows -- And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 was taken up into paradise. There he heard things so amazing that no human being is allowed to repeat them. How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 I would be glad to talk about that kind of thing. But when it comes to myself, I will only talk about my weaknesses. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 Even if I decided to brag, I would not be talking nonsense because everything I say is true. But I hold back, because I want people to judge me by what they see me do and hear me say. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 To keep me from getting a big head because of these incredible things God showed me, I was given something painful -- like a thorn stuck in my body. It was a messenger from Satan sent to beat me down. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 Three separate times I begged the Lord to take it away. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in hardships, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Signs of an Apostle and Concern for Corinth
Study note
Paul affirms that the signs of a true apostle -- patience, signs, wonders, and mighty deeds -- were demonstrated among the Corinthians. He expresses his selfless love as a spiritual parent who spends and is spent for his children. Addressing accusations of craftiness, he points to the consistent integrity of everyone he has sent. He closes with genuine concern that his upcoming visit may reveal unresolved sins of quarreling, jealousy, anger, and immorality in the congregation.
11 I have been acting like a fool with all this bragging, but you pushed me into it! You should have been the ones speaking up for me. I may be nothing special, but I am definitely not behind those so-called "super-apostles" in any way. I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
12 When I was with you, I showed the signs that prove someone is a true apostle. I did miracles, wonders, and displays of power. And I did it all with great patience. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13 In what way were you treated worse than the other churches? The only difference is that I never asked you for money! Please forgive me for that terrible wrong! For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
14 Look, I am getting ready to visit you a third time, and I still will not ask you for anything. I am not after your belongings -- I am after you. Children should not have to pay their parents' bills. Parents should save up for their children. Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 I will gladly spend everything I have and wear myself out for you. If my love for you keeps growing, will your love for me keep shrinking? And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
16 Alright, so I was never a burden to you. But some people claim I was sneaky and caught you with a trick. But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
17 Did any of the people I sent to you take advantage of you? Not even one. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
18 I asked Titus to visit you and sent our brother along with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Of course not. We all have the same attitude and walk the same path. I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
19 Have you been thinking this whole time that we are just defending ourselves? We are speaking before God as people who belong to Christ, and everything we do, dear friends, is for the purpose of building you up. Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20 This is what concerns me: when I come, I might not like what I find, and you might not like how I respond. I am afraid I might find fighting, jealousy, explosive anger, selfish scheming, trash talk, gossip, arrogance, and chaos. For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
21 I am afraid that when I visit again, God might humble me before you. I might have to mourn over people who sinned before and still have not turned away from their impurity, their sexual sin, and their shameful behavior. And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.