# 2 Corinthians 12 đź“–: Strength in Weakness
[[đź“š Explore the Bible Books]]
[[-2 Corinthians Overview]] | [[2 Corinthians 11]] | [[2 Corinthians 13]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh
**Principle**: God's strength is best experienced when we come to the end of ourselves.
[[#Verse 01.]] It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.Â
[[#Verse 02.]]Â I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven.Â
[[#Verse 03.]]Â And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows)Â
[[#Verse 04.]] was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak.Â
[[#Verse 05.]]Â On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me,Â
[[#Verse 07.]] even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant.Â
[[#Verse 08.]]Â I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me.Â
[[#Verse 09.]] But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
### The Signs of an Apostle
**Principle**: It is easy to misunderstand that love is patient.
[[#Verse 11.]] I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.Â
[[#Verse 13.]] For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!Â
## Paul's Concern for the Corinthians
**Principle**: Let your actions speak for themselves.
[[#Verse 14.]] Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.Â
[[#Verse 15.]] Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less?Â
[[#Verse 16.]]Â But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit!Â
[[#Verse 17.]]Â I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I?Â
[[#Verse 18.]] I urged Titus to visit you and I sent our brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way?
[[#Verse 19.]] Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.Â
[[#Verse 20.]] For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.Â
[[#Verse 21.]] I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Paul speaks of himself in the third person, "a man in Christ" (12:2), most likely out of humility.
2. "Fourteen years ago" (12:2) would place this vision in the early 40s AD, during Paul's years in Tarsus and Syria.
3. "The third heaven" (12:2) referred to the dwelling place of God, beyond the sky and the stars.
4. "Paradise" (12:4) comes from a Persian word for a walled garden.
5. Paul's "thorn in the flesh" (12:7) has been identified as an eye problem, an illness, persecution, or opponents. No one knows for sure.
6. The Greek word for "thorn" (*skolops*) can also mean a pointed stake.
7. Paul prayed three times for the thorn to be removed (12:8), much as Jesus prayed three times in Gethsemane.
8. "Reside in me" (12:9) uses a word meaning to pitch a tent over, echoing God's presence dwelling among His people.
9. Paul planned a third visit to Corinth (12:14).
10. Paul says signs, wonders, and miracles were the marks of an apostle performed among them (12:12).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Lord whose grace is enough and whose power is made perfect in weakness (12:9). Paul boasts in his weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on him (12:9-10; 2 Corinthians 13:4).
## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Paul was caught up to paradise but chose not to boast about it (12:2-6). Why might God guard us from pride?
2. God did not remove Paul's thorn but gave him grace (12:7-9). How have you experienced God's grace in an unanswered prayer?
3. When I am weak, then I am strong (12:10). What weakness might God want to use in your life?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 9: "My grace is enough for you," for power is made perfect in weakness.
- đź“– verse 10: When I am weak, then I am strong.
- đź“– verse 15: Paul will gladly spend and be spent for the Corinthians.
## đź”— Related Passages
- đź”— [[Acts 22#Verse 17.|Acts 22:17]] - Paul's vision in the temple (12:2).
- đź”— [[Luke 23#Verse 43.|Luke 23:43]] - Paradise (12:4).
- đź”— [[Revelation 02#Verse 07.|Revelation 2:7]] - Paradise (12:4).
- đź”— [[Numbers 33#Verse 55.|Numbers 33:55]] - Thorns in the side; Satan afflicts Job (12:7).
- đź”— [[Job 02#Verse 07.|Job 2:7]] - Thorns in the side; Satan afflicts Job (12:7).
- đź”— [[Matthew 26#Verse 39.|Matthew 26:39, 44]] - Jesus prays three times in Gethsemane (12:8).
- đź”— [[Isaiah 40#Verse 29.|Isaiah 40:29-31]] - Strength to the weary; God chooses the weak (12:9).
- đź”— [[1 Corinthians 01#Verse 27.|1 Corinthians 1:27]] - Strength to the weary; God chooses the weak (12:9).
- đź”— [[Romans 05#Verse 03.|Romans 5:3]] - Rejoicing in suffering; strength through Christ (12:10).
- đź”— [[Philippians 04#Verse 13.|Philippians 4:13]] - Rejoicing in suffering; strength through Christ (12:10).
- đź”— [[Romans 15#Verse 19.|Romans 15:19]] - Signs and wonders confirming the message (12:12).
- đź”— [[Hebrews 02#Verse 04.|Hebrews 2:4]] - Signs and wonders confirming the message (12:12).
- đź”— [[1 Corinthians 04#Verse 14.|1 Corinthians 4:14-15]] - Paul as their spiritual father (12:14).
- đź”— [[1 Corinthians 05#Verse 01.|1 Corinthians 5:1]] - Unrepentant immorality in the church (12:21).
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
📝 SOAP: [[2 Corinthians 12 - SOAP|How to Experience God’s Strength]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes