Reflections on 2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12 (Contemporary English Version)


1. I have to brag. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I must brag about the visions and other things that the Lord has shown me.
2. I know about one of Christ's followers who was taken up into the third heaven fourteen years ago. I don't know if the man was still in his body when it happened, but God certainly knows.
3. As I said, only God really knows if this man was in his body at the time.
4. But he was taken up into paradise, where he heard things that are too wonderful to tell.
5. I will brag about that man, but not about myself, except to say how weak I am.
6. Yet even if I did brag, I would not be foolish. I would simply be speaking the truth. But I will try not to say too much. That way, none of you will think more highly of me than you should because of what you have seen me do and say.
7. Of course, I am now referring to the wonderful things I saw. One of Satan's angels was sent to make me suffer terribly, so that I would not feel too proud.
8. Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away.
9. But he replied, "My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak." So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am.
10. Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong.
11. I have been making a fool of myself. But you forced me to do it, when you should have been speaking up for me. I may be nothing at all, but I am as good as those super apostles.
12. When I was with you, I was patient and worked all the powerful miracles and signs and wonders of a true apostle.
13. You missed out on only one blessing that the other churches received. That is, you didn't have to support me. Forgive me for doing you wrong.
14. I am planning to visit you for the third time. But I still won't make a burden of myself. What I really want is you, and not what you have. Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents are supposed to take care of their children.
15. So I will gladly give all that I have and all that I am. Will you love me less for loving you too much?
16. You agree that I wasn't a burden to you. Maybe that's because I was trying to catch you off guard and trick you.
17. Were you cheated by any of those I sent to you?
18. I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent another follower with him. But Titus didn't cheat you, and we felt and behaved the same way he did.
19. Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? Actually, we have been speaking to God as followers of Christ. But, my friends, we did it all for your good.
20. I am afraid that when I come, we won't be pleased with each other. I fear that some of you may be arguing or jealous or angry or selfish or gossiping or insulting each other. I even fear that you may be proud and acting like a mob.
21. I am afraid God will make me ashamed when I visit you again. I will feel like crying because many of you have never given up your old sins. You are still doing things that are immoral, indecent, and shameful.
    
    

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    Paul's defense of himself in chapter 12 brings to light further charges that had been leveled against him: a lack of visions and revelations and of signs, wonders, and miracles. If he were a true apostle, his accusers evidently charged, when did his relate visions and revelations, or where were his signs, wonders, or miracles? And so, as foolish as Paul thought this whole thing to be, he addressed these charges in chapter 12.
    
    Some 14 years earlier, Paul had been "caught up into the third heaven," though he didn't know whether he was caught up in the body or out of the body. (12:2) In this experience he heard inexpressible words which men are not allowed to speak. Since his revelation was inexpressible, he would not have spoken of it to them before. Besides, he thought it more beneficial to boast, not of this experience, but of his weaknesses through which Christ is glorified rather than himself. Therefore, he tells of the "thorn in the flesh" he was given following his vision to keep him from exalting himself. Pain and suffering help us keep perspective. If, through a "mountain-top" experience such as his vision we are tempted to think we are more special to God than other people, a little pain or suffering can help put ourselves in perspective. Just as blessings tempt us to think too highly of ourselves, pain tempts us to think lowly of ourselves. Few, if any, of us are capable of appropriately handling only the blessings without the need to balance our perspective through pain or suffering. It doesn't have to be physical pain. The pain of rejection by others or anything else that causes pain will suffice.
    
    As for the signs, wonders, and miracles, these "signs of an apostle were performed among you in all endurance" when Paul was with them. (12:12) How could the Corinthians have forgotten? It is one of the dangers, though, when we allow ourselves to be caught up in criticism against another. We get tunnel vision and can only see the failures. Once the Corinthians opened their minds to the charges against Paul made by the false apostles, they very likely began to question everything he did, failing to see the good for what it was. As a result, the charges had become petty to the point of questioning Paul's motives for not taking monetary support from them. The main reason he didn't accept support from them was so no one would question his motives in receiving their money. But he couldn't win. They were, instead, questioning his motives for not receiving their money. So now he asks for evidence of how he took advantage of them? And how was it he treated them worse than the other churches?
    
    Though the Corinthians had earlier repented of previous sins, Paul was now concerned that should he return to Corinth he will find them yet again in need of repentance. He was concerned he might find: "quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder." Or, that "many who sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and promiscuity they practiced." (12:20, 21)