HE GLORIES IN WONDROUS EXPERIENCES, DREADFUL WEAKNESS AND THE MANIFESTATION OF MIRACLES, IN ALL OF WHICH HE IS A MATCH FOR HIS OPPONENTS (2 CORINTHIANS 12:1) Having stressed the differences between himself and the opposing visiting preachers in that he had been the one who founded their church and f... [ Continue Reading ]
‘I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.' His glorying must necessarily go on in order to combat his opponents, even though in other circumstances it would be ‘not on', it would not be acceptable behaviour. And he will now consider his... [ Continue Reading ]
‘I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knows), such a one caught up even to the third heaven. And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knows), how that he was caught up into... [ Continue Reading ]
‘On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on my own behalf I will not glory, save in my weaknesses.' Yet he seeks no glory because of his experience. Let them consider the reality and glory certainly. But he does not want them to look at him and admire him. Let them rather look on his weaknesses a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he sees me to be, or hears from me.' He could glory if he wanted to, and it would not be foolish, because he would speak the truth. And yet how fo... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.' For God has gone out of His way to ensure that Paul was kept mindful of what he... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Concerning this thing I besought the Lord three times, that it might depart from me.' ‘Three times' may well mean ‘a number of times.' Since the beginning when man first began to use numbers ‘three' has meant more than just a number and regularly meant ‘many' compared with a ‘few' (which was repre... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you: for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may take up its abode on me.' The reply that at some stage came to him from Christ, and is still effective (perfec... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Wherefore I take pleasure (‘gladly boast') in weaknesses: in injuries (or ‘insults'), in necessary hardships, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then am I strong.' This placed here might suggest at first sight that the ‘thorn in the flesh' covered all these seen... [ Continue Reading ]
‘I am become foolish, you compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you. For in nothing was I behind the very highest ranking apostles, though I am nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works.' Having bared his soul... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For what is there wherein you were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except it be that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.' Indeed the only Apostolic ‘sign' that he did not work among them was that of making himself a burden to them, of imposing on them for hospitalit... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden 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.' So he is now ready to pay them their third visit. But he will still not call on them f... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ASSURES THEM OF HIS CARE FOR THEM (2 CORINTHIANS 12:14). He declares that he intends shortly to visit them for a third time. But when he does he will again not be a burden on them. (This suggests that he did not think that they were really upset about his not being a charge on them, or otherwise... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?' And he is happy that it should be so. He is delighted to spend himself, until he is absolutely spent, for them. (The play on words is also there in the Greek). He will hold nothing back.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But be it so, I did not myself burden you, but, being crafty, I caught you with guile.' And yet if it is to be so, it must be so. For he is aware of what they are saying about him, of the accusations being made against him. They are saying that no, he did not burden them with a requirement for hos... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Did I take advantage of you by any one of them whom I have sent to you?' Did any of the people whom he sent take advantage of them? Did they come away with any money which would benefit Paul? Let them think about it and weigh up the facts.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?' It was he who encouraged Titus to come with the other brother. Did he take advantage of them then? Did he not just behave like Paul. Did t... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS FINAL WAKE UP CALL (2 CORINTHIANS 12:19) ‘You think all this time that we are excusing ourselves to you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.' Do they really think that all this time he is only making excuses? Never. For let them consider befor... [ Continue Reading ]