Lesson for September 27, 2023

The Book of II Corinthians

Chapter 12:1-21

Verses 1-6

“Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man 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 to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.”

What Paul revealed to these believers was something he had not revealed in the past to them. It was an experience that proved beyond a doubt that Paul was the authorized spokesman from God. Paul had actually been called to Heaven by God. What he saw and heard were things he could not share with them, perhaps because they were so magnificent that he thought no one would believe him. Paul was referring to himself when he said he knew a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven.

Verses 7-10

“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for 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. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. Paul began asking for the thorn to be removed. When Paul began to think Bible doctrine, he remembered the doctrine of suffering for blessing. He remembered that God’s grace was all he needed. And the result was he reoriented to grace and focused his mind on Christ, instead of his circumstances.

Verses 11-13

^“I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually, I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!”

Paul was being sarcastic in taking the position that he had acted foolishly, when in fact he had not. The eminent apostles sarcastically referred to the Judaizers. God and His Word were everything and Paul was nothing by comparison.

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. Paul’s authority was Bible doctrine, not a perceived authority like the false teachers.Signs and wonders that he performed were Paul’s evidence of his divine authority. (Acts 3:6-10, 4:16, 8:13)

For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!” This was the ultimate in sarcasm. He was not apologizing at all. Paul could have taken money from the Corinthians as their pastor but chose instead to work and earn his own money so that money would not be an issue. Instead, he wanted the emphasis to be on the Word of God, not supporting him.

Verses 14-16

“Here for this third time, I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit.”

Paul was ready to make a third attempt to visit them. If he made it, it would be the actual second visit.

I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls means to spend time preparing and teaching to the point of wearing out or exhausting oneself. In other words, he was going to continue to teach doctrine until he physically couldn’t, even if they continued to ridicule him.

But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. Once again, we have sarcasm from Paul. Paul was studying and teaching to the point of total exhaustion and was still being criticized. He was not discouraged, nor did he become a burden to them. The Judaizers in Corinth had maligned Paul saying that he was taking up an offering for himself instead of for the poor, starving, and oppressed Jewish believers in Jerusalem. Yet, Paul had never taken an offering for himself or his fellow workers. 

Verses 17-19

“Certainly, I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?  All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.”

Not only had Paul not been a financial burden to the church at Corinth, neither had Timothy or Titus. Paul wasn’t trying to defend his ministry because his ministry didn’t need defending. His objective was to awaken the Corinthians to their true spiritual condition which was reversionism.

Verses 20-21

“For I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances. I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality, and sensuality which they have practiced.”

Paul was not afraid of anything; he just didn’t want to go where people didn’t want to hear the teaching of the Word of God. Paul would rather come to these believers when they were in a state of positive volition toward doctrine than to be humiliated by coming to them and teaching doctrine and being rejected. Because of Paul’s great love for these believers, it would cause him to mourn if he found them in a state of carnality from rejecting the truth that he taught.