2 Corinthians

Sunday, 3 January 2016

I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. 2 Corinthians 12:11

There is emphasis in Paul’s words to highlight the situation. He says, “I have become a fool in boasting” with the emphasis on “I.” It is an ironic statement to mean, “By the words of boasting which I have penned, I stand convicted as a fool.” Immediately after this, he says, “…you have compelled me.” In this, the “you” is also emphatic. In essence, “You have forced me into this position of boasting, where I have become a fool.”

To explain the emphatic nature of his words, he next carefully clarifies what has transpired – “For I ought to have been commended by you.” The fault for everything Paul penned, which highlighted his qualifications and the exceptional things he had done and encountered, lay at the feet of the Corinthians. He had come to them, led them to Christ, fellowshipped with them, and together they had a personal relationship. They knew him in an intimate way. So why had they driven him to this position where he now needed to boast? They had turned from the man they knew to follow after false apostles who only meant them harm.

Because of this, he reintroduces them into his thoughts with the words, “…for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles.” Here he uses the same unusual term that he used in verse 11:5. It is the “extra-super apostles” to whom he is referring. Since calling them this, he has spent a great deal of time and ink demonstrating that he wasn’t just ahead of them, but he was eminently more qualified than them. He was far ahead of them in all ways. And yet despite this, he finishes the thought, “…though I am nothing.”

In these words, he may be speaking sarcastically. If so, it would mean something like, “Despite all I have done, and despite all of my qualifications, the false apostles have spoken of me as nothing at all. At the same time, they have elevated themselves to a place of importance among you.” It also may be that his words are serious. If so, then his intent is to say, “Despite all of the things I have done, and despite all of my qualifications, I am just a man. All of those things are rubbish and refuse. I am the bondservant of the Lord who alone is to be regarded.”

Because of the possibility that either option is correct, it may be that he intended them to take it both ways. The Corinthians needed to take their eyes off of the false apostles and also keep them off of Paul when they did. Instead, they were to fix their eyes on Jesus.

Life application: As noted in a previous verse, it may be necessary to state our qualifications in order to establish a baseline of who we are in comparison to others. However, when we do this, it is important to not allow those qualifications to then elevate us to an unhealthy level in the eyes of others. After stating the qualifications to meet the intended purpose, we should remember to redirect the eyes of those we are addressing back to the One who truly deserves the attention.

Lord God, it is nice to receive a pat on the back or a compliment from others, but it is also important to not allow others to over-elevate us to a position which is unhealthy. We all have gifts and we all have talents. Just because some of them are more notable than others doesn’t mean they are more important. Help us to always acknowledge the Source of other’s gifts by giving the final credit to You. Help our hearts to not idolize anyone, but to instead adore You alone. Amen.

Saturday, 2 January 2016

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

This is the paradoxical attitude of Paul and of countless faithful believes since he penned these words. In Christ there is a strength which transcends our weakness. When the divine word came, he realized that he had been asking for the wrong thing. Instead of “Take this thorn from me,” he found that the words, “Be exalted through my weakness” were all that was necessary to find contentment and peace.

Because of this (therefore), Paul says, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses.” “Infirmities” are physical limitations in an otherwise normal human state. “Reproaches” are probably the insults that he bore because of his infirmities – such as the charge concerning his “contemptible speech” in 2 Corinthians 10:10.

His “needs” are those things which he lacked, but which were necessary to sustain him. He mentioned these in 2 Corinthians 11:27. “Persecutions” are surely speaking of the words hurled at him because of his faith in Christ, and of any physical harm that came along with the verbal abuse. He detailed some of these in 2 Corinthians 11. “Distresses” would have been the trials he spoke of in the previous chapter which came along with his travels. He was shipwrecked, faced perils, had anxiety for his beloved brethren, etc.

Each of these he faced with a new sense of vitality, taking pleasure in them “for Christ’s sake.” When he realized that they were a part of the Lord’s plan for him and not merely a hindrance to it, he learned to revel in them. And the reason is explicitly given as, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” He may be weak in the body, but he had a renewed strength in the spirit which transcended anything his physical afflictions could throw at him. It was a strength which came from Christ and it was made perfect in his weakness.

Life application: Paul has given a list of a wide variety of troubles he faced, both external and internal. And yet, none of them could overcome him to the point of dejection. Instead, he learned to exalt in them because they were bestowed upon him by Christ. Let us learn this lesson. Nothing is outside of the providence of God. If we bear an affliction, it is because He has allowed it in our lives. Let us use that affliction then to His glory.

Lord God, for every affliction we face, be it internal or external, help us to realize that it was ordained for us by You. Rather than trying to “claim” our way out of it, help us to realize that it may be there so that You will be glorified through it. Don’t let us squander the chance to exalt You through our limitations. Instead, give us the presence of mind to bring You honor and glory through whatever state we find ourselves in. Be with us in this noble task! Amen.

Friday, 1 January 2016

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 infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

This verse is one which has brought two thousand years of comfort to those faithful Christians who are facing affliction, anguish, pain, or trial. Knowing that Christ Jesus spoke to Paul, and that his words are recorded for our benefit, allows us to know that the Lord is speaking to each of us through his words. Paul had asked three times for his thorn to be taken away. But the divine answer came back with soothing words for the path which lay ahead of him. The thorn would remain, but the Lord would be there with him through it.

What the words, “He said to me” mean can only be speculated upon. Did the Lord audibly speak to him? Was it in a vision? Or was “no response” a response in itself? In other words, did Paul deduce that this was the Lord’s chosen path for him while reading Scripture and contemplating the silence concerning the removal of the thorn? Though the third option seems unlikely at first, isn’t this exactly how we now receive our response? We pray for relief, we wait on an answer, and while we read Paul’s words here, we realize that the affliction we are suffering is intended to be there. Maybe Paul was reading Job and came to this conclusion.

No matter how the Lord spoke to him, His answer was, “My grace is sufficient for you.” We have an infirmity which limits us, we think it is a hindrance to our walk with the Lord and the accomplishment of His mission that we are trying to carry out, and yet we find that the affliction is what allows us to be fruitful in our mission. Think of Joni Eareckson-Tada! The Lord has used her because of her affliction and His grace has been sufficient.

Paul continues to cite the thought in the words, “for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Moses had an affliction of speech and yet the Lord’s power was made perfect through his weakness. In fact, maybe it was Moses who Paul was thinking of all along! Moses questioned the Lord’s decision three times (Exodus 3:11, 4:10, and 4:13) just as Paul had done. However, he eventually yielded to the Lord’s will.

However the Lord spoke to Paul, it was evident that he finally realized that God could do great things through one with an affliction. And not only would great things be done, but He would be the One to receive the glory. Who else could use the weak, infirm, dull, poor, or shunned to do such great things!

It should be noted that some manuscripts leave off the word “my.” If this is correct, it turns the verse into a general proposition by saying, “Strength is perfected in weakness.” If this is the correct rendering, it might make it seem cold and impersonal, but it is not. The fact that the Lord is the one who is speaking keeps it both personal and powerful.

After his realization that the thorn would stay and yet not be a hindrance to his mission, Paul says, “Therefore… Yes! Because of these things, a good result will follow and I will be honored to carry the thorn as a badge of that surety! “Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities.'”

Paul was let down the wall of Damascus in a basket because he couldn’t do it himself. He was conducted around by others as he traveled because he couldn’t conduct himself. He struggled through his thorn with pride in the Lord who sustained him and used him despite of it. His infirmity was the greatest point of his boasting. As he says, “that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

The word for “rest upon” is episkénoó. This is its only use in the New Testament. It comes from two other words: epi (on) and skénoó (to dwell in a tent). Thus it means to “arise a tent (over), dwell, spread a tabernacle over.” The word skénoó is the same word used in John 1:14 when speaking of Christ coming to “dwell” or “tabernacle” among us.

What Paul is saying with this special word is that it is as if the power and glory of Christ Himself enveloped him like a tent. It rested upon him and the shining glory of Christ blazed upon him because of his thorn. He therefore had every reason to boast in this. For Paul, the Lord’s power and majesty were on display because of his infirmity! Again, think of Moses, Jone Eareckson-Tada, or any of the vast number of people in redemptive history who shined forth more brightly because of their affliction. What a great God to use the weak and fallible to reveal His power and love to the world!

Life application: If you have a limitation which you feel hinders you from a ministry for the Lord, think again. The Lord is probably waiting for you to realize that it is this very limitation which He can use most effectively.

Lord Jesus, You have said that Your grace is sufficient for us and that Your strength is made perfect in weakness. For those of us who bear an infirmity or who are weak in this body, be pleased to use us to Your glory. May Your strength be on display in us as we share our lives for Your glory. Use us as mighty warriors as we rely on Your grace to succeed in living out our lives as faithful servants. Be glorified through us, weak and weary as we are. Be glorified through us, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Thursday, 31 December 2015

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 2 Corinthians 12:8

Paul’s thorn in the flesh was something that he was so despondent over that he petitioned the Lord three times that it might be taken away from him. Why Paul chose to continue after the first time and to cease at three times isn’t stated, but it could be that he first had on his mind the parable of the persistent widow found in Luke 18:1-8. He knew that sometimes a prayer isn’t answered right away, but that we are to be determined in our prayer lives.

However, after the third petition, he ceased. Maybe this was because the Lord Jesus in Matthew 26:39-46 only petitioned His Father three times in Gethsemane concerning His own coming trial. Paul may have felt that to go beyond what Christ petitioned would be inappropriate. This is all speculation, but he is clear and precise in his words. Concerning his thorn, he “pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.”

It is significant for the believer in Jesus Christ to note that Paul “pleaded with the Lord.” In other words, his prayers and petitions were directed to Jesus personally. Thus, it is appropriate to pray to Him and to expect Him to be the One to respond in whatever way He chooses. In other words, it is to be inferred that Jesus Christ is fully God and that He is fully capable of handling His responsibilities within the Godhead for all of His people. Paul has set the example which we may now follow by petitioning the Lord in this manner.

Life application: This verse gives us a general guideline for a few important issues. The first is that we may petition the Lord Jesus in prayer. The second is that we should be persistent in our prayers. It’s not that the Lord might not have heard us the first time, but that there are reasons He chooses to not respond immediately. A third reason is that there is a time when we should cease in our prayers. For Paul’s particular case, it was three times. This is not to be considered a set amount for every occasion though.

Lord Jesus, we can know that You faithfully hear every prayer raised to You. But examples found right in the Bible show us that You don’t always respond to our first prayer. Instead, You have shown that we should be diligent in bringing the same matter up as it comes to our heart. And Your word also shows us that sometimes we will receive what we ask for and other times we won’t. Help us to understand the reasons behind Your decisions. But even if we don’t receive that information, grant us the ability to always say, “Your will be done.” Thank You that we can always come to Your throne of grace. Amen.

Wednesday, 30 December 2015

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 2 Corinthians 12:7

In the Bible, there are certain verses which come with incredibly long and detailed commentaries by scholars. This is one of them. The words of Paul here have meaning and they convey his thoughts as he attempts to explain his infirmities; the very things in which he feels boasting is acceptable. Because of this, scholars really want to know what he is talking about.

He begins with, “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations.” These are the things he spoke of in verses 1-4. These revelations were the kinds of things that could then make him to appear to be “the man in God’s favor.”

It cannot be denied that anyone who claims to have had heavenly visions is normally either elevated to an unhealthy level, or is disregarded as insane. If the visions are believed, it means that those who believe the person are willing to accept that they have participated in something divine. If this is so, then they are marked as special and worthy of listening to. It is, unfortunately, this type of thing that has led to the formation of many cults throughout the church-age.

In order that this wouldn’t happen with Paul, because his visions were really true, “a thorn in the flesh” was given to him. What does this have to do with his revelations? This thorn is the very thing that will be used to show that Paul is just a man with human limitations. By having such limitations on prominent display, it would take the eyes of his audience off of the sensational elements of his life and keep them on the reality of his troubled human nature.

This “thorn” is described as “a messenger of Satan” that was used to “buffet” him. Just as Satan was allowed to afflict Job, so he is allowed to afflict any of God’s people by the approval of God. However, though Satan may think that he is accomplishing evil, God will always use such trials for good. We normally see these things from our perspective – “Ouch this hurts; it must be evil,” or “What a terrible situation, my heart is broken. Why has God allowed this evil in my life?” However, if we could just step out of ourselves and see the entire picture, we would then understand the greater plan. Job’s afflictions, Paul’s thorn, our own trials, heartaches, and losses – all of these things – are being used to serve God’s ultimately good plan for His people.

For Paul, there was a good reason for his thorn. According to him, it was “lest I be exalted above measure.” He understood the exact reason for the thorn. This doesn’t mean that the thorn wasn’t painful, but that he could endure having it because he knew it was serving a greater purpose. As we will see in the coming verses, he truly wanted it to be taken from him, but the Lord refused his request. And He refused for a most important reason.

The question that scholars debate concerning this “thorn” is, “What is it?” A wide variety of possibilities have been submitted as to what it is. Some believe it was a moral deficiency, such as the temptation of women or the like. Others have named various physical afflictions that it could have been. Without Paul naming it, we can only speculate. However, speculation is not to be rejected outright. There are possible clues to what it could be which are found in Acts and in His epistles.

One sound speculation, although impossible to be adamant about, is that it could be failing eyesight. When writing to those in Galatia, he said to them that at one point they would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him (4:15). In Acts, when Paul was standing in the presence of the high priest, he claims to have not known that it was him (Acts 23:5). Elsewhere in Acts, Paul’s set, fixed gaze is noted. This could be because of failing eyesight (Acts 13:9). When writing to those in Galatia, he told them, “See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!” (6:11). This could be a sign of failing eyesight. He is noted to have written this way in all of his letters (2 Thessalonians 3:17). Also from Acts it can be implied in several passages that Paul was conducted by others in his journeying. Some of the accounts seem to imply that he was simply unable to conduct himself for some reason. Failing eyesight would be a good reason. Finally, according to the Pulpit Commentary, the word for “buffet” “is derived from kolaphos, a slap on the face, and would be suitable to such a disfigurement as ophthalmia.”

In the end, we can only guess at what Paul’s affliction was. And this is for good reason. If his affliction was named, it could only then be applied as a life example to those who had the same condition. Truly, only they could fully empathize with Paul’s ordeal. But without naming the affliction, it allows for a common empathy by all people who suffer with their own burden, whatever it may be. We can look to our infirmity and be content that God has allowed it into our life, just as he allowed some type of unknown infirmity into Paul’s life too.

Life application: If you have a “thorn” in the flesh – be it moral or physical – be content that God has allowed it into your life in order to bring Him glory. In the end, He has determined that it was necessary for your life to come out exactly as He intends.

Glorious God Almighty, each of us may suffer with some type of thorn in our flesh. It may be temporary, or it may be permanent. It may be a moral failure that we need to keep in check, or it may be a physical limitation that hinders us. But it has been allowed by You to frame who we are. As You have allowed it into our lives, You have granted it so that we will be shaped in the way that You see fit. How then can we complain about what You have determined is best for us? Instead, let us rejoice in such limitations or afflictions, knowing that Your plan and purpose is a long-term one which is meant for the very best in us. Thank You for this assurance. Amen.