The Second Epistle to the Corinthians 2 Cor

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians 2 Cor 12: 1 -10 - Christ Life & Ministry Glories in His Strength & Appointed Infirmities to Us • 2 Cor 12: 1 – “It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: ” – The theme of boasting continues and is necessary – remember even more than before, now in his infirmities (2 Cor 11: 30). – Better translated ‘I must boast but there is nothing for me to gain by it’. • Is this a defeatist attitude that Paul is displaying here or is it a statement that he by God’s grace has done all that he can do? – The result – visions and revelations of the Lord. • He here turns to how his position can affect his condition. • 2 Cor 12: 2 – “I knew a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows— 1 Nov 26, 2017 Bob Eckel

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians 2 Cor 12: 1 -10 - Christ Life & Ministry Glories in His Strength & Appointed Infirmities to Us such a one was caught up to the third heaven. ” – I knew a man in Christ fourteen years ago – perfect active indicative. • Is there any doubt that this was Paul; and he is now reflecting back on such revelation? • If this epistle was written in A. D. 58 as claimed, then fourteen years ago would have been several years after his conversion. – Some conjecture that this was about the time that Barnabas brought Paul form Tarsus to Antioch (Acts 11: 25, 26); an alternative view is it was when Paul returned to Jerusalem (Acts 22: 17). – whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows • The verb for know here is eido – factual, and only God knows! • Why does scripture make this so clandestine? – such a one was caught up (seized with force) to the third heaven. • What/where is the third heaven? 2 Nov 26, 2017 Bob Eckel

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians 2 Cor 12: 1 -10 - Christ Life & Ministry Glories in His Strength & Appointed Infirmities to Us – Not the atmosphere or the starry skies beyond, but God’s dwelling place. • 2 Cor 12: 3, 4 – “And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. ” – Why does Paul repeat himself in verse 3? – What about paradise? • In the Septuagint (Greek version of the Jewish Scriptures) paradise is translated as garden (multiple OT references). • In Greek and Roman culture, this was an elevated and cultivated land. • Bengel thinks this is an inner recess of the third heaven (Luke 23: 43, Rev 2: 7). – heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 3 Nov 26, 2017 Bob Eckel

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians 2 Cor 12: 1 -10 - Christ Life & Ministry Glories in His Strength & Appointed Infirmities to Us • Does this mean that the words were unlawful to mention because they were moral/spiritual and not interpretable to others or that they were impossible to communicate in the way the Lord had given them? – And weren’t these words directed to just Paul? – John 3: 12 - “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? – This is an incredible and unique experience – a man taken up to heaven and returns to tell about it – and with no details? • 2 Cor 12: 5 – “Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. ” – Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast. • What irony, assuming Paul is the one of whom he will boast. – How’s this for the new life in Christ Jesus! • How are we doing boasting about our infirmities? • 2 Cor 12: 6 – “For though I might desire to boast, I will 4 Nov 26, 2017 Bob Eckel

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians 2 Cor 12: 1 -10 - Christ Life & Ministry Glories in His Strength & Appointed Infirmities to Us not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. ” – Does Paul really want to boast? • though is better translated by the conditional participle if. • And if he did boast would he really be foolish if he’s speaking the truth? – So what is the risk of this boasting from which he refrains? • Is Paul concerned about his reputation in the world and/or church here? • Clearly he wants to avoid being perceived as were the Pharisees. – John 12: 43 - For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. • 2 Cor 12: 7 – “And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. 5 Nov 26, 2017 Bob Eckel

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians 2 Cor 12: 1 -10 - Christ Life & Ministry Glories in His Strength & Appointed Infirmities to Us – Do you think this thorn occurred before his visit to the third heaven (from whence the revelations came)? • Noticing the purpose, this messenger of Satan likely followed. – Notice the source, a messenger of Satan to harass (buffet) Paul. • Suggests the thorn is something that shames. – Although this thorn is perceived by most expositors as physical, could it have been spiritual? • And commentators are all over the map here. • Whatever, this is the only NT use and the term means sharp and prickly, which suggests something physical. – Like Job » Job 2: 6, 7 - And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your power; only spare his life. “ So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD, and afflicted Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. • But doesn’t being elated (exalted) suggest spiritual? – Could this have been pride? 6 Nov 26, 2017 Bob Eckel

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians 2 Cor 12: 1 -10 - Christ Life & Ministry Glories in His Strength & Appointed Infirmities to Us • 2 Cor 12: 8 – “Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; ” – In context, this is the Lord Jesus Christ. – Whether physical or spiritual can we relate to that? – Thrice has implications: • To the Jew three was a sacred number • Num 22: 28, 24: 10: 1 Sam 3: 8, 20: 41; 1 Kings 18: 34: Prov 22: 20: Jer 7: 4, 22: 29; John 21: 17 • Christ in Gethsemane – Matt 26: 39 -44 • The church (trinity) • And Christ and Paul received answers after their third request. • 2 Cor 12: 9 – “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in 7 Nov 26, 2017 Bob Eckel

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians 2 Cor 12: 1 -10 - Christ Life & Ministry Glories in His Strength & Appointed Infirmities to Us my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – And He said unto me – perfect active indicative • Stated factually once by God (Christ) with sustaining applications. – “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. ” • Is made perfect – present passive indicative – Rom 5: 2 - through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. – Made complete and by Him, now and for certain! • How often do we relate to this incredible statement? – But is our response Paul’s - Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. • Describe our infirmities or weaknesses (Greek – strengthlessness). – Could they be corruptions, sins or sinfulness? » Even so we can boast about the power of Christ within us. 8 Nov 26, 2017 Bob Eckel

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians 2 Cor 12: 1 -10 - Christ Life & Ministry Glories in His Strength & Appointed Infirmities to Us • May rest, subjunctive (may or may not), why? • 2 Cor 12: 10 – “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ” – I take pleasure in infirmities – present active indicative • Infirmities – partly from Satan and the rest from us (mankind). • How are we doing here? • Another life – in Christ Jesus! – when I am weak – present active subjunctive • Thus, sometimes I’m not weak (without strength). – What do you make of for Christ’s sake? • Why doesn’t it say In Christ? – Couldn’t it mean In Christ but for the sake of His glory? 9 Nov 26, 2017 Bob Eckel