1 Bible Study June 12, 2012 II Corinthians 11:21b-33 Paul compares his ethnic qualifications with his opponents to prove that they failed to prove themselves superior even when they set their own standards. Paul s ethnic qualifications Verse 21b Paul continued to speak as a fool with the goal of whipping his opponents on their own terms. Verse 22 He says he has an ethnic background comparable to his opponents. He was a Hebrew, distinguished from Hellenized Jews (Jewish religious culture in the Greek world). He was an Israelite and a descendent of Abraham. He was an heir of the grace of God promised to Abraham. He was not adopted into Abraham s family as the Gentile believers were. Paul believed that neither Jew nor Gentile were superior in Christ, however, this seemed to matter to his opponents. Verse 23-33 Verses 23-27 External sufferings Paul rendered great service to Christ. His opponents must have proclaimed to be special servants of Christ. Paul claimed to be more of a servant than they were. He says that he is out of his mind to talk this way, but for the sake of protecting the Corinthian church from false apostles he talked this way. Paul s claims exceeded any they made. Verses 28-29 Internal sufferings He experienced turmoil out of concern for all the churches. He felt empathy with other believers. When others were weak, he was weak. When others fell into sin, he inwardly burned. Burned- he felt a number of emotions. He felt anxiety for the many churches that he ministered to.
2 Verses 30-33 Paul shifts to boasting. Since he had to boast he wanted to boast on things that showed his weakness. He departs from the style and status of his opponents. He demonstrates his extraordinary service while continuing to attack his opponents on their grounds. Boasting about weakness helps him because it exalted God as the source of his strength. He presents a boast formula, acknowledging God as the One to be praise forever. Paul swore that God knew he was not lying. He went on to describe the time he barely escaped from Damascus with his life. Demonstrated his devoted service to Christ. But it also made it clear that God cared for him and deserved all the praise.
3 Bible Study June 19, 2012 II Corinthians 12:1-13 Paul compares his extraordinary experiences of visions and revelations to those of his opponents. Paul s visions and revelations Verse 1 Paul felt it was wise to boast about visions and revelations from the Lord. His opponents claimed to receive special visions and revelations from the Lord. Paul challenged their claims to be super apostles by reporting his own extraordinary visions, which surpassed any these false apostles claimed. Verses 2-3 It is difficult to know if Paul was speaking of himself or someone else. At first it appears that Paul is speaking of someone else: I know a man. Paul may be referring to another mans heavenly experience to counter these super apostles claim to supreme revelatory experiences. These false apostles are not superior because an even more extraordinary event happened to someone else. Others believe that Paul was referring to himself. Paul wanted the super apostles to understand that they were not superior to him. This passage is introduced as Paul s own boasting. Some say that Paul spoke in the third person out of modesty. The point is that these false teachers have no real claim to superior revelation because Paul or another had received one as well. Paul or this man had been caught up in the third heaven. Rabbi s taught of seven heavens: so difficult to understand the meaning of the third heaven. The highest heaven is where God dwelled so we know that Paul did not reach there. Yet, the third heaven indicated that the experience was astounding. The experience was so awesome that Paul or this man did not know if it had been in the body.
4 Verse 4 Verses 5-6 Paul describes this level of heaven as paradise. The place where the dead in Christ enter (Luke 23:43). While the Paul heard things, he could not express. Probably words from angels and God that he was not permitted to tell. These super apostles probably spoke opening about their supposedly heavenly revelation. Paul made sure that they understood that his experience was supreme because he was not permitted to tell what he heard there. By this Paul claimed that his authority over the church was far more than any authority claimed by these false apostles. His revelation was greater than any revelation his opponents received. Paul now says that he would not boast about himself except about his weaknesses. If he did differently, he would still be speaking the truth. But he resisted lifting himself too high because he did not want anyone to think more of him that was warranted. Paul knows that these Corinthian s could exalt people beyond what they should and these Corinthian s might do the same. So he speaks of weaknesses. Verse 7 Paul was tempted to become conceited because of these great revelations. To keep this from happening, God placed a thorn in his flesh. Thorn in the side. Trouble inflicted by God. It is impossible to know what the apostle had in mind. He also called it a messenger from satan. It brought Paul torment, but Paul says nothing else. Endless suggestions: 1. Paul had a physical ailment, eye disease (Galatians 4:15) or a speech impediment. 2. Paul spoke of continuing opposition in the churches. 3. Pau pointed to some troubling demonic activity, severe temptation. Verse 8-9a Paul s main idea is clear. He asked God to remove it three times.
5 Verse 9b Verse 10 But God told him that Divine grace was enough for him. God said it, God has said it. Or both. God wanted Paul to be secure and find comfort in the grace he had received from Christ. This is what God desires for all believers. God denying Paul s request turned out for the greater good. His thorn was to God s glory. God told Paul divine power is made perfect in weakness. God loves to show power in instances of weakness. When God s people are weak, God s strength is evident. As a result, Paul was determined that he would boast all the more gladly about his weakness. He quit complaining. So that Christ power would rest on him. Rest, a tabernacle or pitch a tent. His thorn brought the blessings of God upon his life. Paul concluded that he would delight in weaknesses rather than dislike them. So for Paul insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties were causes for joy. In times of weakness, Paul was strong in the power of God. A Pointed Conclusion (11-13) Verses 11-12 Paul admitted that he had made a fool of himself by taking on the strategy of his opponents in boasting as he had. He insisted that the Corinthians had driven him to it. He ought to have been, much admired, celebrated, and applauded by the congregation. They knew him and his ministry. He was not inferior to these super apostles and they knew this. Paul knew that he was nothing in himself. It was the grace of God that made him something, These Corinthians should have remembered his signs, wonders, and miracles. These mark him as an apostle.
6 As he preached the Gospel many miracles were performed, but in Corinth they had been done with great perseverance. Time and time again he had demonstrated that he was a great apostle. Verse 13 Paul in only one way treated the Corinthians as inferior to the other churches. He was never a burden to them. He had not required them to support him for his services. Paul was being sarcastic. Not an insult at all, but an honor he bestowed on them. Gracious treatment for their spiritual benefit. His only offense was to honor them more than he honored other churches. So he asks them in a sarcastic way to forgive his kindness towards them.
7 Bible Study June 26, 2012 II Corinthians 12:14-20 Verse 14 Paul says despite you not commending me, I am not weaned (dissuaded, discouraged, stopped) from Corinth. Paul says, I am ready to visit you a third time. Self-denying contact has brought contempt. Paul says, I will not be a burden to you. He does not want possession from them. He wants them. Was he not their spiritual father? Thus he would give to them all his strength, heart, and self to advance their well being. Verse 15 He loves them so much that he will spend everything he has on them. He will expend himself (disburse himself, use up himself, burn up himself) for them as well. Will this work? If I love you more, will you love me less? Verse 17 May have been some false apostles who said, Paul tricked you when he sent men to collect the offering for the saints in Jerusalem. May have said, Paul s deputies made a profit for him. Verse 18 Or Titus and others abuse their position. Was this so? Paul said, We all walked in the same steps. Paul had given all of himself and even his life to their service. Was all of this for nothing? Verse 19 Paul says, We have not been defending ourselves. We have been defending Christ. We speak in the sight of God, as those in Christ. Everything they do, they do so for the Corinthian edification. Christ would be witness of Paul s love for these ungrateful Corinthians.
8 Verse 20 Verse 21 Paul now expresses his fears. He might not find them, as he wants them to be. He wanted the rebellious Corinthians to know that he was Christ s apostle to them. And that he was charged with maintaining the peace, order and purity of the churches he oversaw. He asks them not to push him to the edge. To drive him to extreme measures. He fears there is disorder among them. See the list in this verse. He did not want to exercise his authority, but would do so if he needed to. But this gave him no pleasure. He loved them but would restore harmony to the church, if need be. And if he found them not as he wants them to be, they will find him, as they would not want him to be. Thus each would disappoint the other. He hoped this would not be the case. But he has apprehensions. More than this Paul sensed that there was sensual wickedness in the church that was common in Corinth. May have been men who have sinned by their impurities, sexual sin, and wickedness, corruption and dishonesty. And have not repented. Non-repented would grieve him. He would be humbled because he would see that all of his labors in ministry had failed.