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2 Corinthians 12:9 Commentary

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2 Corinthians 12:9 Commentary 2 Corinthians 12:9 Commentary PREVIOUS NEXT 2 CORINTHIANS - PAUL'S MINISTRY IN THE LIGHT OF THE INDESCRIBABLE GIFT Click chart to enlarge Charts from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission Another Chart from Charles Swindoll A Third Chart Overview of Second Corinthians 2Co 1:1-7:16 2Co 8:1-9:15 2Co 10:1-12:21 Character Collection Credentials of Paul for the Saints of Paul Testimonial & Didactic Practical Apologetic Past: Present: Future: Misunderstanding & Explanation Practical Project Anxieties Apostle's Solicitation for Judean Apostle's Vindication Apostle's Conciliation, Ministry & Exhortations Saints of Himself Forgiveness, Reconciliation Confidence Vindication Gratitude Ephesus to Macedonia: To Corinth: Macedonia: Preparation for Change of Itinerary Certainty and Imminence Visit to Corinth Explained of the Visit 2Co 1:1-7:16 2Co 8:1-9:15 2Co 10:1-12:21 2Corinthians written ~ 56-57AD - see Chronological Table of Paul's Life and Ministry Adapted & modified from Jensen's Survey of the New Testament (Highly Recommended Resource) & Wilkinson's Talk Thru the Bible INTRODUCTIONS TO SECOND CORINTHIANS: IRVING JENSEN - Introduction and study tips - excellent preliminary resource - scroll to page 1877 (Notes on both 1-2 Cor begin on p 1829) JOHN MACARTHUR 2 Corinthians Introduction - same as in the Study Bible JAMES VAN DINE 2 Corinthians - Author, Purpose, Outline, Argument CHARLES SWINDOLL - 2 Corinthians Overview MARK SEIFRID - The Message of Second Corinthians: 2 Corinthians as the Legitimation of the Apostle J VERNON MCGEE - 2 Corinthians Introduction DAN WALLACE - 2 Corinthians: Introduction, Argument, and Outline DAVID MALICK - An Introduction To Second Corinthians 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (NASB: Lockman) Greek: kai eireken (3SRAI) moi, Arkei (3SPAI) soi e charis mou; e gar dunamis en astheneia teleitai. (3SPPI) hedista oun mallon kauchesomai (1SFMI) en tais astheneiais mou, hina episkenose (3SAAS) ep' eme e dunamis tou Christou. Amplified: But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! (Lockman) Barclay: And he said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for power is perfected in weakness." So it is with the greatest gladness that I boast in my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may pitch its tent upon me. (Westminster Press) ESV: 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. KJV: 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. NET: But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. NIV: 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. NJB: but he has answered me, 'My grace is enough for you: for power is at full stretch in weakness.' It is, then, about my weaknesses that I am happiest of all to boast, NLT: Each 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. (NLT - Tyndale House) Phillips: but his reply has been, "My grace is enough for you: for where there is weakness, my power is shown the more completely." Therefore, I have cheerfully made up my mind to be proud of my weaknesses, because they mean a deeper experience of the power of Christ. (Phillips: Touchstone) Wuest: And He has said to me, and His declaration still stands, My grace is enough for you, for power is moment by moment coming to its full energy and complete operation in the sphere of weakness. Therefore, most gladly will I the rather boast in my weaknesses in order that the power of the Christ [like the Shekinah Glory in the Holy of Holies of the Tent of Meeting] may take up its residence in me [working within me and giving me help]. Young's Literal: and He said to me, 'Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;' most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me: THE CONTEXT 2 Corinthians 12:1-8 (1) Boasting (kauchaomai) is necessary (NB: The only time Paul ever says he must boast - perhaps because there were those among the Corinthians who were introducing false visions, cp 2Co 11:13, 14, 15), though it is not (ou = absolute negation) profitable (beneficial, advantageous, useful = in context seems to be referring to ecstatic visions); but I will go on to visions and revelations (apokalupsis) of the Lord Comment: The visions and revelations Paul will recount are decidedly from the Lord Himself. Remember that in contrast to Paul's day, God has now spoken His final Word in His Son - He 1:1, 2-note). (2) I know a man (Why Paul uses the third person to describe his experience is uncertain) in Christ (Paul was a believer - cp in Christ) who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a man was caught up (seized, snatched, forcibly and suddenly grasped, "raptured" = harpazo [word study], cp Ac 8:39, 40, Re 12:5-note) to the The THIRD HEAVEN"">Third Heaven (the abode of God). Comment: What Paul is writing now is from the vantage point of 14 years of having experienced the sufficiency of God's grace - See Chronology of Paul - 2Corinthians written about 58AD - 14 years earlier would be circa Paul's First Missionary Journey, possibly even the time of his stoning in Iconium = Acts 14:19. Application: What looks to us as a "thorn in our flesh" at a moment in time, quite often takes on a different "hue" over time, if we grow in grace rather than allowing ourselves to become bitter rather than "better"! (3) And I know how such a man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows-- (4) was caught up (harpazo) into Paradise (Jews in first century equated this word with heaven, cp Lk 23:40, 41, 42, 43, Re 2:7-note), and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. (5) On behalf of such a man will I boast (kauchaomai); but on my own behalf I will not boast (kauchaomai), except in regard to my weaknesses. (6) For if I do wish to boast (kauchaomai) I shall not be foolish, for I shall be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one may credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. (7) And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given (see comment below) me a thorn (skolops = something pointed, as a stake or thorn, thus something which could induce severe physical or emotional pain or constant irritation. Whatever it was Paul associates it with weakness, 2Co 12:9, 10) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet (strike with fist; don't miss that this verb is in the present tense = continually striking Paul with blows!) me-- to keep me from exalting myself (literally = becoming lifted up above = "puffed up with pride"). Comment: Paul is not saying illnesses or difficulties in ministry are always the work of Satan - in any event Satan always has to "check in with God" - cp Job 1:8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Note that God's purpose was for Paul's good - to keep Paul from becoming prideful, the major hindrance to the flow of grace in one's ministry! See Jas 4:6-note. Has the Almighty allowed a "thorn" in your side? If so consider it all joy! Our pain if received rightly can be spiritually productive in God's plan for our life. (Jas 1:2-note, Jas 1:3, 4-note) Spurgeon comments on the phrase "was given"... Paul reckoned his great trial to be a gift. It is well-put. He does not say, "There was inflicted on me a thorn in the flesh," but "There was given to me." This is holy reckoning. Child of God, among all the goods of your house, you have not one single article that is a better token of divine love to you than your daily cross. If you were to tell your child that you would grant him any-thing he asked for, you would not intend by that to give him a poisonous drug, if someone should delude him into the idea that it would be useful to him.
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