Read 2 Corinthians 12
Paul’s Vision and His Thorn
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 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. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians
11 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
Go Deeper
The Corinthians put Paul under pressure to defend himself because of their affinity for and popularity of the “super apostles” (11:5). Paul willingly defended himself, not because he wanted them to like him or approve of him, but because he wanted them to love and surrender their lives to the Savior of the world, Jesus. Paul recognized that the Corinthians were immature, unspiritual, and vulnerable to believe popular opinions of famous false teachers. He loved them too much to let them believe lies.
Judging by the context, these popular false teachers may have captivated their audience with tales of supernatural experiences, so Paul writes about his personal experience of revelations and visions. However, instead of Paul’s outcome resulting in adoration and arrogance, he’s given a “thorn in the flesh” so that he will never become prideful or boastful regarding what he saw and experienced.
Scripture never reveals Paul’s affliction. His thorn in the flesh is never explained. What we do know is that three times Paul begged God to remove it. But, it remained. In the original language, the word for begged or pleaded is the word parakaleo. Para means alongside, kaleo means to call to or to beckon. When compounded together, the word pictures one who comes alongside someone else, as close as he can get, and then begins to passionately call out, plead, beckon, beg, and beseech that other person to do something on his behalf.
Paul is letting us know that he got as close as he could to God and passionately pleaded with the Maker of the universe to remove his affliction. God’s answer was different than what Paul asked.
That’s a hard pill to swallow. Yet, Paul surrendered to it. Because he trusted that God—whose wisdom and understanding we cannot begin to fathom—would deliver Paul in some way, but perhaps not Paul’s desired way. And God did deliver Paul. Paul’s weakness was the means for God’s power and strength to be on full display. God’s grace was a better solution than a cure. Maybe our healing and strength is more about Christ-sufficiency through affliction than it is about Christ-sufficiency around affliction.
Make no mistake, when God doesn’t answer your prayer the way you want, it doesn’t mean that God is mad at you, or that God has forgotten you. God isn’t punishing you. God’s power is being constantly perfected in our weakness and need. He is sufficient to give us what we need to walk through whatever lies before us. Sometimes He delivers us out. Sometimes He delivers us through. Either way, He is the Deliverer.
Questions
What about you? When affliction and pain are almost too much to bear do you draw as close as you can to God, walking alongside Him, passionately pleading with Him for help, or do you tend to withdraw from Him? What counsel would Paul give you?
Have you experienced a time when God’s grace was sufficient and His strength was made perfect in your weakness? Do you share that experience with others frequently? Why or why not?
Spend some time today remembering God…the ways He’s provided a way out and the times His sufficiency has carried you through.
Keep Digging
So, what was the thorn in Paul’s flesh? While we cannot know with certainty, there are different theories and perspectives of what it was. Read this article from GotQuestions.org to learn more!
5 thoughts on “2 Corinthians 12”
I’m reminded of the lyrics of “In Christ Alone” as I read this chapter. It always has been and always will be about him. Our hope, security and every longing of our hearts is found in a relationship with Christ. All the worldly distractions pale in comparison to what he offers. He is our all in all! Let’s boldly stand and affirm this with our lives.
In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live,
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
A thorn being a “gift from God’ is a crazy concept. My mind is swirling with thousands of thoughts. BUT GOD wanted Paul to be kept from pride or “exalted above measure”. That word pride keeps popping up. Paul accepted his “thorn” as a gift. I think it would take some heavy prayers but maybe God already told him when he was in paradise that His grace, God’s grace would suffice him through this gift of a thorn? All I see is that Paul turns bad into good for God’s glory. God gave Paul major grace to more than just endure but to exalt God through his sufferings. God seems to know how to balance his and our lives if we let Him. We on the other hand have to figure out how to balance the “sufferings” so that we do not become bitter or give up. This just robs us of what blessings God has for us here and now, through life’s storms and thorns. God did not give Paul explanations(that we know) but He did give Him and us a promise “My grace is sufficient for thee”. Feelings change, BUT GOD’s promises never change. Promises generate faith, and faith strengthens hope. Without grace, God’s grace I would give up.
God thank You for this day and all that I can do and say to glorify You. Thank You for Your Word and revealing so many truths for my walk everyday. Thank You for Your Grace being sufficient in all things in these minutes of this day, today. God I give You glory and honor that I can be a blessing to those I encounter. God help me to see them through Your love goggles and show me how to serve them in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!
Well said Ella. Your mention of Christ Alone struck a chord, as we were blessed to hear a powerful version of it from Shane and Shane last week. Such beautiful lyrics with great power to help us through challenging times.
Despite the “thorns” that may weaken us, Christ’s power is made perfect.
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!!
Amen, amen, and amen!
As an additional bonus, this chapter taught me how to boast properly!
A “thorn “in our lives may be exactly what we need to keep us humble, and our eyes fixed on Jesus.