Paul s Vision and His Thorn. Paul s Concern for the Corinthians. 2 Corinthians 12:1-21

Transcription

1 1 Commentary by Ron Thomas Questions by John C. Sewell Paul s Vision and His Thorn Paul s Concern for the Corinthians 2 Corinthians 12:1-21

2 2 Paul s Vision and His Thorn Paul s Concern for the Corinthians Text: 2 Corinthians 12:1-21, 1. It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4. How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9. 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.

3 3 10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 11. I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. 12. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 13. For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. 14. Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 16. But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 18. I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? 19. Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. 20. For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 21. And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

4 4 Commentary: 2 Corinthians 12:1-6, It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. I. Is was not profitable for Paul to boast: A. It was not profitable for him to boast because it elevates the man rather than the Lord. 1. Paul did not desire to do this but felt he must in order to neutralize the false apostles. 2. Paul never used his visions and revelations as signs to promote himself as somebody special. (Martin, WBC, p. 396) B. Why Paul used the third person when he was speaking of himself is uncertain. 1. Some have speculated one thing or another, but it seems most likely that Paul s use of the third person demonstrated some reluctance on his part to even mention the things to follow.

5 5 C. The fourteen years ago that Paul references would date this experience of his to the time somewhere between A.D (depending on when the epistle is dated). D. The third heaven. 1. It has been the view of most that three heavens are identifiable: first, the air above us; second, the space where the sun, moon, and stars reside; and third, the place where the Lord dwells. 2. However, as Coffman says, There are no geographical connotations whatever in these words, for the third heaven where God dwells is not a thing of space and physical location at all. (p. 481) 3. One is inclined to interpret the third heaven (verse 2) to be the same as Paradise (verse 4) though some dispute this). II. Paul will boast, yet, in Paul s boasting he merely speaks the truth. A. His hesitancy in doing so is in order that one might not think of him more than he ought. 1. Notice what he says in his first epistle to the Corinthians: 2. 1 Corinthians 4:6-16, And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why

6 6 dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 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. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

7 7 I. A thorn in the flesh a messenger of Satan. A. This is probably as difficult a passage to understand as there is in the New Testament. B. Such thoughts as to what this thorn might have been include: 1. headache, 2. epilepsy, 3. malarial fever, 4. fleshly temptations, 5. spiritual temptations, 6. infirmities of the mind, 7. lustful thoughts, 8. false teachers constantly nagging him, 9. blasphemous thoughts of the devil, 10. malignant oppositions by secular Israel. 11. Visual impairment. 12. and probably many others (see Coffman, pp ). 13. This goes to show that we don t know!

8 8 C. Something to keep in mind, however, is that this thorn in the flesh is from Satan. 1. A messenger of Satan; the word messenger carried with it the idea of the spoken word. II. This messenger of Satan was to buffet Paul in order that he would not exalt himself or be exalted by others. A. Man has a tendency to exalt other men; an individual man even has an inclination to exalt himself. 1. This is why pride goes before destruction. B. Man elevates himself to a throne (exaltation) and before he knows it, he must answer to the Throne. C. Paul, knowing he must stand before the Throne of God said: 1. 1 Corinthians 9:26, 27, I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. III. Paul pleaded with the Lord for relief. A. He appealed three times. B. The Lord would not give him relief except to say that the strength of Jesus is his relief. 1. Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

9 9 C. Paul willingly accepted the Lord s answer. 1. Take note of why Paul said what he did. 2. In his personal life, he took the emphasis away from himself and kept it on the Lord. 3. Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 2 Corinthians 12:11-13, I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. I. Though Paul did not regard himself highly, he certainly recognizes people who do regard themselves much too highly. These false apostles did exactly that. A. Paul said he ought to have been commended by the Corinthians. 1. Why should he have been commended? 2. He took to them the gospel of Jesus and proclaimed the good news of salvation. 3. The Corinthians should have regard toward Paul in a significant way because of this.

10 10 B. More than that, Paul was in Corinth for about 18 months; did they not come to know him? 1. Yet the false apostles, whom they were so willing to accept, what did the Corinthians know about them? II. Paul said further that he was not behind those so-called eminent apostles; rather, he had the true signs of an apostle. A. Exactly what he means is stated in verse 12. Paul was an apostle of the Lord who demonstrated his authority. B. To the Galatians, Paul said: 1. Galatians 3:1-5, O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? C. In the context of Galatians, Paul was dismayed that they were removing themselves from Christ because, just like in Corinth, some came along and preached something different than what Paul preached. D. As false prophets did in the regions of Galatia, they did in Corinth; they preached that Paul was less than the other apostles. III. What was the purpose of the miraculous?

11 11 A. We live in a day in which many people are calling things unexplained a miracle; truly, it should remain something unexplained. B. A miracle is not something unexplained; rather, a miracle is the accomplishment of that which is contrary to nature (hence, explained). It is a sign pointing to something else. C. Jesus performed the miraculous in order to point the people to Him (cf. John 5:31ff). 1. Jesus told the apostles that the word proclaimed by them would be confirmed by the miraculous. a. Mark 16:20, And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. 2. The Holy Spirit spoke about those who confirmed the word preached. a. Hebrews 2:3, How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; D. All these references point the person seeing them to Jesus and His authority. 1. Matthew 9:8, But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. 2. Matthew 9:33, And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

12 12 IV. Paul then used irony to rebuke the Corinthians further. A. Whereas the false apostles were willing to elevate themselves (giving themselves glory), they were most willing to take their living from the Corinthians. B. Paul received support from other churches; he did this so the gospel would not be hindered. 2 Corinthians 12:14-21, Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. I. Paul s affection for the Corinthians should have been obvious to them, yet it was not. (12:14-15). A. They were much too willing to accept the assertions of others.

13 13 1. In his first epistle, Paul said that he was their father in the faith. a. 1 Corinthians 4:15, For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. B. That is, he taught them the gospel. C. Normally, there is affection between the taught and the teacher when things like this oocur. 1. Galatians 6:6, Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. D. I am sure it existed when Paul taught them also. 1. However, when false teachers came in and began to tear down what the Lord built up (through the teachings of Paul), then whatever affection might have existed was in danger of being reduced. 2. That is what happened here. II. Paul s accusers, though, were asserting things that actually influenced the Corinthian s way of thinking (12:16-18). A. The false apostles may have recognized that Paul did not come into Corinth and take from them personally, but charged he did so through his associates! More than this, they asserted, it was done deceitfully. B. Verses 17 and 18 have the effect of saying, Prove your accusation!

14 14 III. Paul s apology (12:19-21). A. Paul did not try to excuse himself or Titus (who was sent to them). 1. No, Paul was insisting that his intention was strictly to edify (build up) the Corinthians. 2. So strong was he in this insistence that he, in effect, called upon the Lord as a witness. B. But, unfortunately, some in Corinth were not likely to respond as the Lord wanted. 1. Paul knew that, when he went there, there was going to have to be a confrontation. 2. Nothing physical, because the Lord s servant does not do things of that sort. 3. A confrontation of spiritual matters. 4. Remember Paul s words? a. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

15 15 C. Paul did not look forward to this, but he knew he needed to address the problem. 1. This needed to be done if for no other reason than to save those who wanted to be saved. 2. To those who did not want to submit to the Lord s authority, church discipline needed to be exercised.

16 16 Questions 2 Corinthians 12: What happened to Paul 14 years before 2 Corinthians was written? Give details. 2. What was the reason, purpose of these visions? See 2 Corinthians 12: Paul said it was not profitable for him to boast. Why, then, did he boast? 4. How many heavens are there? Explain each.

17 17 5. Paul preached the truth! What is truth? Answer thoughtfully. 6. These things I ( ) have figuratively transferred to myself and for you, that you may in us not what is. 7. The Lord assured Paul, My is for you, for my is made in. 8. In what did Paul take pleasure? 9. Exactly what was Paul s thorn in the flesh. Explain what effect it had on Paul and his work. 10. Paul s thorn in the flesh came from Satan. What thorns has the devil sent your way?

18 Jesus promised, Ask and it will be given to you. Paul asked three times that his thorn be removed, but it was not removed. Explain that. 12. Paul said, I have been with ; it is no longer I that, but lives in me; and the which I now in the I by in the of, who me and gave for me. 13. To what extend can you truthfully make this statement? What areas of your life need improving so you can better measure up to this standard? 14. Who were the most eminent apostles?

19 Why ought Paul to have been commended by the Corinthians? Did they commend him? If not, why not? 16. Do people esteem themselves too highly or do we have feelings of inadequacy and inferiority? 17. What are miracles, signs and wonders? Define each and state ways they are alike and different. 18. What were the purposes of miracles? 19. Paul said, The more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. Do you ever feel this way? When, why, by whom?

20 When Paul returned to Corinth as planned, what did he want to avoid? See verse What would Paul do if those who had been living sinful lives had not repented of the uncleanness, fornication and licentiousness of which they had been guilty? 22. How did false teachers affect the thinking and conduct of the Corinthians? 23. For what and why did Paul apologize?

21 How did Paul wage war with the devil and his followers? 25. What is your attitude toward sin? Ignore it and it will go away? Judge not? Nobody is perfect? Burn them at the stake? Other?