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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

2 Corinthians 12:9,10

2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient. Paul says that God’s grace “is sufficient” (in the present tense). This emphasizes the constant availability of God’s grace, for Paul and for every believer (see Romans 8:31). my power is made perfect in weakness. Paul’s earthly weaknesses (not his revelations) were God’s way of demonstrating his power. This is the basis of Paul’s self-defense throughout 2 Corinthians 1:1.

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See also 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 du,namij {A} The Textus Receptus, following ac A2 Db, c E K L P most minuscules syrp, h copbo arm, reads h` ga.r du,nami,j mou. The possessive pronoun, which is absent from...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 Corinthians 12:9. _MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE_] Thou shalt not be permitted to sink under these afflictions. Thy enemies shall not be able to prevail against thee. _MY STRENGTH IS MADE...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND HE SAID UNTO ME - The Saviour replied. In what way this was done, or whether it was done at the time when the prayer was offered, Paul does not inform us. It is possible, as Macknight supposes, th...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    3. REVELATION IN WHICH HE MIGHT GLORY. HIS APOSTLESHIP. CHAPTER 12 _ 1. Caught up to the Third Heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:1)_ 2. The Thorn in the Flesh. (2 Corinthians 12:7) 3. The Marks of His Apos...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    A SPECIAL REVELATION AND ITS SEQUEL. By an account of a great spiritual experience which he had enjoyed, Paul explains the reason why he has been called on to suffer, and the Divine interpretation of...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE THORN AND THE GRACE (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    I must continue to boast. It is not good for me to do so, all the same I will come to visions and revelations given to me by the Lord. I know a man in Christ, who, fourteen years ago--whether it was i...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    UNTO. to. GRACE. App-184. MY. The texts omit. STRENGTH. Greek _dunamis._ App-172. IS MADE PERFECT. Greek. _teleioo._ App-125. MOST GLADLY. Greek. _hedista_. Neut. Plural Superlative of _hedus;_ u...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _And he said unto me_ Jesus Christ said it, "but _how_the answer from Christ was received, whether through an inner voice or by means of a vision, is entirely unknown to us." Meyer. _My grace is suffi...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Thorn in the Flesh 7. _And lest I should be exalted above measure_ Rather, -lest I should be TOO MUCH exalted." _a thorn in the flesh_ See Introduction. _the messenger of Satan_ Or, AN ANGEL of...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΔΎΝΑΜΙΣ (אABDFG, Latt. Arm. Aeth. Goth.) rather than δύναμίς μου (א3A2D2D3KLP, Syrr. Copt.). See on 2 Corinthians 12:5. ΤΕΛΕΙ͂ΤΑΙ (אABDFG) rather than τελειοῦται (א3D3KLP). The μου after ἀσθενείαις sh...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _A THORN IN THE FLESH 2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10:_ Paul said that one of Satan's angels was sent to make him suffer terribly. He felt that the purpose of this was to keep him from becoming conceited. This...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΕΊΡΗΚΕΝ _perf. ind. act. от_ ΛΈΓΩ (G3004) говорить. _Perf._ предполагает, что слова эти остаются с Павлом как постоянный источник уверенности и утешения (Bruce; IBG, 15). ΆΡΚΕΪ́ _praes. ind. act. от...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2043 THE SUCCESS OF FERVENT PRAYER 2 Corinthians 12:7. Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messe...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.— "Is illustrated in proportion to the weakness of the instrument I make use of." The word 'Επισκηνωση, which we render, _may rest upon,_ is emphatical, and sig...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTS SECTION 1 Weaknesses in the Body (2 Corinthians 12:1-10 12 I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I know a man...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    20 Paul's patient and forbearing behavior among them was in striking contrast to the course of his detractors. They treated the Corinthians like slaves, while Paul served them like a slave. They devou...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    12:9 dwell (g-34) Or 'power of Christ may tabernacle -- have its dwelling-place -- on me.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    HIS PRIVILEGES AND TRIALS The Apostle unwillingly resumes his boasting and tells of a revelation he received from God; but returns again to dwell on his weaknesses, and especially on his bodily infir...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    MY GRACE, etc.] 'It is enough for thee that thou hast my grace; my power makes itself felt when there is no other support' (Stevens). For the thought, cp. Luke 22:43; Psalms 20:6; Psalms 138:3. The be...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PARAPHRASE. 'And lest I should be uplifted by spiritual pride as the result of these revelations, a painful bodily weakness—the very work of Satan—was inflicted upon me. (8) I prayed earnestly for the...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD SHOWS HIS POWER WHEN WE ARE WEAK 2 CORINTHIANS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 12 V1 It is not good to be proud. But I need to tell you about *visions and *revelations of the *Lord. V2 I know a man in...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND HE SAID UNTO ME, MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE. — The words fit in, more or less, with each of the two views that have been discussed above. From one point of view, however, it seems infinitely...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    καὶ εἴρηκέ μοι κ. τ. λ.: _and He hath said_ (note the perf. as expressing the abiding validity of the Divine promise; so often in quotations from the O.T., _e.g._, Acts 13:34; Hebrews 4:4; Hebrews 10:...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    HIS “THORN IN THE FLESH”....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE SECRET OF STRENGTH 2 Corinthians 12:1 It is a sublime phrase- _a man in Christ._ We reach our full stature only when we are in Him. We are but fragments of manhood until the true man is formed in...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The boasting continues. However, it takes on a new and startling characteristic. In his apostleship there had been something supernatural, something not to be finally explained. Of this, he will glory...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    VERSE 9 Not only was the answer no, God also told Paul that he would see to it that his problem did not overburden him (1 Corinthians 10:13). God further made it clear that His power was brought to it...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. (4) Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may (i) res...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    A sting of my flesh, [1] an angel, or a messenger of Satan, to buffet me. The Latin word signifies any thing that pricks or stings, the Greek word a sharp stick or pale: he speaks by a metaphor, as al...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    2 Corinthians 1:1-24. It is impossible to read the two epistles to the Corinthians with the smallest care without perceiving the strong contrast between the wounded tone of the first epistle (the hear...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE ‘THORN IN THE FLESH’_ ‘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....

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS_ ‘My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9 How can I get this strength? I. IN ANSWER TO PRAYER.—‘They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.’...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    9._He said to me. _It is not certain, whether he had this answer by a special revelation, and it is not of great importance. (910) For God answers us, when he strengthens us inwardly by his Spirit, an...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Nevertheless, though forced to speak of himself, the apostle would glory only in his infirmities. But he is, as it were, outside his natural work. His past life unfolds before his eyes. The Corinthian...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND HE SAID UNTO ME,.... Either by what the Jews call קול בת, "Bath Kol", a voice from heaven, an articulate audible one; or by some extraordinary revelation of the Spirit of God; or by a divine impr...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 m...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _For this thing I besought the Lord thrice_ All kinds of affliction had befallen the apostle, yet none of these did he deprecate. But here he speaks of his thorn in the flesh, as above all the rest on...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT; to enable you with patience to bear it, support and comfort you under it, and make you more happy and useful than you would be without it. GLORY IN MY INFIRMITIES; because the...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Unusual tribulations:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    If in chapter 11 we have seen God's grace in sustaining the vessel through all adversity, Paul now speaks of the other side of this, the grace which gives unspeakable blessedness in being "caught up...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    7-10 The apostle gives an account of the method God took to keep him humble, and to prevent his being lifted up above measure, on account of the visions and revelations he had. We are not told what t...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    AND HE SAID UNTO ME, MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE: Paul prayed, and God answered, not _in specie, _ (doing the very thing for him which he asked), but _in valore, _ giving him what was every whit a...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. [Philippians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 2:3-5] _Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III Long-suffering therefore was God, when man became a defaulter, as foreseeing that victory which should be granted to him through the Word. For, when strength was ma...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Corinthians 12:9 And G2532 said G2046 (G5758) me G3427 My G3450 grace G5485 sufficient G714 (G5719) you

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘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...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    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 hi...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    2 Corinthians 12:9. AND HE HATH SAID. It is not a single reply to the prayer as then offered, “but as continuing in force: He hath told me, and with this I must rest satisfied.” [1] MY GRACE IS SUFFIC...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    HE HATH SAID (ειρηκεν). Perfect active indicative, as if a final word. Paul probably still has the thorn in his flesh and needs this word of Christ.IS SUFFICIENT (αρκε). Old word of rich meaning,...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    PERFECT IN (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 5:48). _...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    2 Corinthians 12:9 The Quietness of True Power. Paul speaks in these verses of his own weakness and his thorn in the flesh. He says that he glories in his infirmity, and that in his weakness God had...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    2 Corinthians 12:8 Strength in Weakness. I. We have here the instinctive shrinking from that which tortured the flesh, which takes refuge in prayer. II. We have, next, the insight into the source o...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    2 Corinthians 12:7 The Thorn in the Flesh. I. The first lesson which is suggested by these words is this: that the thorn in the flesh comes for a specific end. Of course it does not come by chance; n...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: God's dealing with Paul. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Paul, Titus, Satan. CONCLUSION: The exalted experiences of the Spirit-filled Christian overbalance all he is called upon to be...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Corinthians 12:1. _It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord._ To disclosures of the divine pleasure, which cannot be known by any researches...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    HIS ANSWER WAS. Paul did not receive what he wanted, but really something better!!! The fact that Paul could do so much in spite of his weakness, showed it was the Lord's power working through him!!!...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 12 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. That the Corinthians may esteem him above the false apostles, he describes his being carried up into the third heaven. II. He goes on to say (ver. 7) that to p...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    _For my strength is made perfect in weakness._ This is a general proposition, a moral axiom applying to any weakness, but properly and primarily to that thorn of concupiscence just mentioned. These ar...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ (_No break, except that of a new paragraph_.) 2 Corinthians 12:1.—Note _reading;_ probably, as in R.V. Remember how full is Paul’s sense of “_expedient_” (1 Corinthians 6:12;...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION The revelations vouchsafed to him (2 Corinthians 12:1). The counteracting "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7). One more apology for glorying (2 Corinthians 12:11

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    It is not expedient [necessary] for me doubtless to glory. [But] I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above [about] fourteen years ago (2 Corinthians 12:1-2), Or...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Corinthians 15:10; 1 Peter 4:13; 1 Peter 4:14;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    He said [ε ι ρ η κ ε ν]. Rev., correctly, He hath said. The force of the perfect tense is to be insisted on. It shows that the affliction was still clinging to Paul, and that there was lying in his mi...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    But he said to me — ln answer to my third request. My grace is sufficient for thee — How tender a repulse! We see there may be grace where there is the quickest sense of pain. My strength is more illu...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe, In this answer that is given to St. Paul's prayer, that the mercy prayed for, is not in kind given unto him, but promised grace and strength, which is better than the mercy he prayed for. Lea...

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