The Letters · New Testament
2 Corinthians 12
2 Corinthians 12: a thorn in the flesh and strength in weakness
General context
Paul turns to visions and revelations but tells his example in the third person. He knew a man in Christ, above fourteen years ago, caught up to the third heaven, and says twice he cannot tell whether it happened in the body or out of it. The man was caught up into paradise and heard words no man may utter. He will glory in such a person but of himself only in weakness, holding back so nobody thinks more of him than what they see and hear. Because of the abundance of revelations, he says, a thorn in the flesh was given him, a messenger of Satan to buffet him, and he asked the Lord three times for it to go. The answer he reports is that grace is sufficient and strength is made perfect in weakness, so he glories in his weaknesses and takes pleasure in reproaches, necessities, persecutions and distresses, because when he is weak he is strong. He says the readers forced this foolish boasting, since they should have commended him, and points to signs, wonders and mighty deeds done among them. He asks what they lacked compared with other churches apart from his refusal to be a burden, and asks forgiveness for it. Preparing a third visit, he says he seeks them and not their money, compares himself to a parent saving for children, and offers to spend and be spent even if loving them more means being loved less. He repeats the charge that he was crafty and caught them with guile, and answers by asking whether he or Titus or the brother sent with him made gain of them. He ends by fearing what he may find on arrival, listing quarrels and disorders and grieving over the unrepentant.
Cited passages: 2 Corinthians 12:1, 2 Corinthians 12:2, 2 Corinthians 12:3, 2 Corinthians 12:4, 2 Corinthians 12:5, 2 Corinthians 12:6, 2 Corinthians 12:7, 2 Corinthians 12:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 12:10, 2 Corinthians 12:11, 2 Corinthians 12:12, 2 Corinthians 12:13, 2 Corinthians 12:14, 2 Corinthians 12:15, 2 Corinthians 12:16, 2 Corinthians 12:17, 2 Corinthians 12:18, 2 Corinthians 12:19, 2 Corinthians 12:20, 2 Corinthians 12:21
2 Corinthians 12 (KJV)
1It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2I 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.
3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6For 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.
7And 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.
8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9And 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.
10Therefore 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.
11I 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.
12Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13For 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.
14Behold, 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.
15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
16But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
17Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
18I 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?
19Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20For 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:
21And 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.
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Historical context
The revelation account is told about someone else. The letter says I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago and never names him, though the next paragraph speaks of the revelations given to the writer himself. The fourteen years is the only interval the letter supplies, and it is counted from the time of writing, not from any fixed event. What the man heard is withheld on purpose, described only as unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. The thorn in the flesh is never described; the chapter says only that it was given, that it is a messenger of Satan to buffet me, and that it did not depart. The words Paul reports from the Lord are quoted directly and are the only speech the letter records as addressed to him. Titus is named, with an unnamed brother sent alongside him. The visit ahead is called the third time, and the chapter gives no date for it and no account of the first two.
Cited passages: 2 Corinthians 12:2, 2 Corinthians 12:4, 2 Corinthians 12:7, 2 Corinthians 12:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 12:14, 2 Corinthians 12:18
Literary context
The chapter keeps its strongest material at arm's length. The vision is reported about a man in Christ, the uncertainty about the body is stated twice in almost identical words, and the content is refused outright. Then the distance closes: the thorn, the three requests and the reply are all in the first person, and the reply is the turning point of the whole argument. From it the logic runs backwards, so that gladly glorying in infirmities and the closing line, when I am weak, then am I strong, invert everything boasting normally does. The second half returns to money, and Paul handles the accusation by quoting it, being crafty, I caught you with guile, then answering with questions about Titus. The chapter ends unresolved, with two lists of things he is afraid to find, so the argument stops on a fear rather than a settlement.
Cited passages: 2 Corinthians 12:1, 2 Corinthians 12:2, 2 Corinthians 12:3, 2 Corinthians 12:4, 2 Corinthians 12:7, 2 Corinthians 12:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 12:10, 2 Corinthians 12:16, 2 Corinthians 12:18, 2 Corinthians 12:20, 2 Corinthians 12:21
Key moments
- Caught up to the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2). Paul tells of a man in Christ taken up more than fourteen years earlier.
- Words not lawful to utter (2 Corinthians 12:4). What was heard in paradise is deliberately withheld.
- A thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7). He says a thorn was given to keep him from being exalted above measure.
- My grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). He reports the Lord's answer that strength is made perfect in weakness.
- I seek not yours, but you (2 Corinthians 12:14). Preparing a third visit, he refuses to be a financial burden.
- Did Titus make a gain of you (2 Corinthians 12:18). He answers the charge of guile by pointing to Titus' conduct.
- What he fears finding (2 Corinthians 12:20). He lists the quarrels and disorders he expects to meet on arrival.
For reflection
Paul asked three times for the thorn to be taken away and reports an answer that left it in place. What do you do with a request that is answered but not granted?
