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2 Corinthians 12:1
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The Vision of Paradise

1 It is1 doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to avisions and brevelations of the Lord:  
2 I know a man ain 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—such a one bwas caught up to the third heaven.  
3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—
4 how he was caught up into aParadise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  
5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not aboast, except in my infirmities.  
6 For though I might desire to boast, I will 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.

The Thorn in the Flesh

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a athorn in the flesh was given to me, ba messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.  
8 aConcerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly aI will rather boast in my infirmities, bthat the power of Christ may rest upon me.  
10 Therefore aI take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. bFor when I am weak, then I am strong.  

Signs of an Apostle

11 I have become aa fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for bin nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though cI am nothing.  
Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
<< 2 Corinthians 11:33   2 Corinthians 12:2 >>


2 Corinthians 12:1

It is not expedient for me - There are several various readings on this verse which are too minute to be noticed here; they seem in effect to represent the verse thus: "If it be expedient to glory, (which does not become me), I will proceed to visions," etc. The plain meaning of the apostle, in this and the preceding chapter, in reference to glorying is, that though to boast in any attainments, or in what God did by him, was in all possible cases to be avoided, as being contrary to the humility and simplicity of the Gospel; yet the circumstances in which he was found, in reference to the Corinthian Church, and his detractors there, rendered it absolutely necessary; not for his personal vindication, but for the honor of the Gospel, the credit of which was certainly at stake.

I will come to visions - · Symbolical representations of spiritual and celestial things, in which matters of the deepest importance are exhibited to the eye of the mind by a variety of emblems, the nature and properties of which serve to illustrate those spiritual things.

Revelations - · A manifestation of things not before known, and such as God alone can make known, because they are a part of his own inscrutable counsels.


 
<< 2 Corinthians 11:33   2 Corinthians 12:2 >>

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