Crossroads Women’s Bible Study Winter/Spring 2020 2 Corinthians “All Things Become New” 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 – The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful Instructor: Maryellen Stipe I. Introduction – Paul’s Last Words to the Corinthians in His Own Defense A. Paul was restrained in writing about his personal experiences, but we see him share some rarely shared details in this chapter. Our only verdict must be that there was no other way to solve the problem of the false “super apostles.” He finishes off his letter by explaining a very deep and profound theology of suffering in order to defend himself and bring enlightenment to the Corinthians. B. It is evident that he wants to avoid exalting himself. In fact, in his first example, Paul describes his experience in the third person rather than the first person. This was an often-used teaching method of the Jewish rabbis of the time and Paul utilizes it skillfully. C. Paul defends himself once more against the malevolent accusation of his enemies. He shares three important experiences from God that became a part of his legacy and reveals some incredible truths about how God works in lives of his children. II. How God Honored Paul – The Good (12:1-6) It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. A. The Judaizers were anxious to receive honors, and they boasted about their “letters of recommendation” (2 Cor. 3:1). These “super apostles” among the Corinthian Christians undoubtedly claimed many spectacular spiritual experiences, such as visions and revelations of the Lord. B. Paul has “reluctantly boasted” since the last chapter, but now he will put on display a report of his own regarding visions and revelations of the Lord. C. Paul’s reluctance is expressed in the opening words of this chapter: It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. 1 D. Paul did not look for honor from men; he let God honor him, and that was all that mattered to him. Paul explains how God honored him by giving him visions and revelations. This was part an important part of Paul’s spiritual gifting “Paul saw the glorified Christ on the very day he was converted (Acts 9:3; 22:6). He saw a vision of Ananias coming to minister to him (Acts 9:12), and he also had a vision from God when he was called to minister to the Gentiles (Acts 22:17). During his ministry, he had visions from God to guide him and encourage him. It was by a vision that he was called to Macedonia (Acts 16:9). When the ministry was difficult in Corinth, God encouraged Paul by a vision (Acts 18:9). After his arrest in Jerusalem, Paul was encouraged by a vision from God (Acts 23:11). An angel appeared to him on a ship in the midst of the storm and assured him that he and the passengers would be saved (Acts 27:23). Along with these special visions that related to his call and ministry, spiritual revelations of divine truth were also communicated to Paul (see Eph. 3:1–6).” (from Wiersbe) E. Visions and revelation: Whether they concerned angels, Jesus, heaven, or other things, these things are more common in the New Testament than we think. “Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, had a vision of an angel (Luke 1:8-23). Jesus’ transfiguration is described as a vision for the disciples (Matthew 17:9). The women who came to visit Jesus’ tomb had a vision of angels (Luke 24:22-24). Stephen saw a vision of Jesus at his death (Acts 7:55-56). Ananias experienced a vision telling him to go to Saul (Acts 9:10). Peter had a vision of the clean and unclean animals (Acts 10:17-19 and 11:5). Peter had a vision of an angel at his release from prison (Acts 12:9). John had many visions on Patmos (Revelation 1:1).” (from Guzig) “We should not be surprised if God should speak to us through some type of visions and revelations of the Lord. But we do understand that such experiences are subjective and prone to misunderstanding and misapplication. In addition, whatever real benefits there are to visions and revelations of the Lord, they are almost always limited to the person who receives the visions and revelations. We should be rather cautious when someone reports a vision or revelation, they have regarding us” Guzig F. I know a man in Christ: Paul describes this experience in the third person instead of the first person (he didn’t say, “I myself had this experience”). 1. Why does he use the third person at all? Because Paul, in describing this remarkable spiritual experience, is describing just the kind of thing that the “super apostles” among the Corinthian Christians would glory in. 2. Paul walks very carefully in regard sharing his visions and revelations. Paul does everything he can to relate this experience without bringing glory to himself. 3. Paul’s spiritual experience had taken place 14 years before the writing of this letter, which would place the experience in about the year AD 43. There is no record of the details of this event, anywhere else in Scripture and it is probably useless to speculate where and when this took place. The 2 important thing to notice is that Paul kept quiet about this for fourteen years, and now he mentions it reluctantly. G. Whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows: Paul doesn’t really know if he was in the body or out of the body during this vision. It seems that in his mind, either one was possible. H. Such a one was caught up to the third heaven: The third heaven doesn’t suggest different “levels” of heaven Instead, Paul is using terminology common in that day, which referred to the “blue sky” as the first heaven, the “starry sky” as the second heaven, and the place where God lived and reigned as the third heaven. Guzig Paul affirmed here the reality of heaven and the ability of God to take people there. The third heaven is the same as “paradise,” the heaven of heavens where God dwells in glory. Wiersbe I. And heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter: describing this heavenly vision, Paul doesn’t relate anything he saw, only a description of what he heard. When we think of this, we realize how different Paul is from most of those who describe their so-called “visions” of heaven today. There is nothing self-glorying, self- aggrandizing, or foolish in the description of his experience. Paul waited 14 years to say anything about the incident, and when he finally did he said it reluctantly. He did everything he could in relating the story to take the focus off himself (such as writing in the third person). He doesn’t bother at all with breathless descriptions of what he actually experienced. Instead, he says nothing of what he saw, and says only that he heard things not lawful for a man to utter. Guzig J. What did Paul hear? They were inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. God didn’t want us to know, so He didn’t give Paul permission to speak. H. Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities: Paul tells us that the “nameless” man who had the vision really had something to boast about. But “Paul himself” really could only boast in his infirmities. Paul kept quiet about this experience for fourteen years! During those years, he was buffeted by his “thorn in the flesh,” and perhaps people wondered why he had such a burdensome affliction. The Judaizers may have adopted the views of Job’s comforters and said, “This affliction is a punishment from God…Paul had exercised great spiritual discipline during those fourteen years, for he had told this experience to no one. There is no doubt that this vision of God’s glory was one of the sustaining powers in Paul’s life and ministry. No matter where he was—in prison, in the deep, in dangerous travels—he knew that God was with him and that all was well.” Wiersbe Why was Paul given this vision? First, he was given it for you and me so that we would benefit from what the Lord showed Paul. Secondly, he was given it because what God 3 told him through this vision sustained him through all the trials of ministry and enabled Paul to give everything God wanted him to give to all generations.