The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

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- Kapitel 12 -

If it is necessary (though certainly not expedient) to glory, then I will next tell of visions and revelations from the Lord.

I know a man in Christ, who, more than fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows), was enraptured to the third heaven.

And I know a certain man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows),

who was enraptured into Paradise. And he heard words of mystery, which it is not permitted for man to speak.

Paul’s Thorn and God’s Grace

On behalf of someone like this, I will glory. But on behalf of myself, I will not glory about anything, except my infirmities.

For even though I am willing to glory, I will not be foolish. But I will speak the truth. Yet I will do so sparingly, lest anyone may consider me to be anything more than what he sees in me, or anything more than what he hears from me.

And lest the greatness of the revelations should extol me, there was given to me a prodding in my flesh: an angel of Satan, who struck me repeatedly.

Because of this, three times I petitioned the Lord that it might be taken away from me.

And he said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness.” And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me.(a)

(b)

Because of this, I am pleased in my infirmity: in reproaches, in difficulties, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful.

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

I have become foolish; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you. For I have been nothing less than those who claim to be above the measure of Apostles, even though I am nothing.

And the seal of my Apostleship has been set over you, with all patience, with signs and wonders and miracles.

For what is there that you have had which is less than the other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this injury.(c)

Behold, this is the third time I have prepared to come to you, and yet I will not be a burden to you. For I am seeking not the things that are yours, but you yourselves. And neither should the children store up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

And so, very willingly, I will spend and exhaust myself for the sake of your souls, loving you more, while being loved less.

And so be it. I have not burdened you, but instead, being astute, I obtained you by guile.

And yet, did I defraud you by means of any of those whom I sent to you?

I asked for Titus, and I sent a brother with him. Did Titus defraud you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

Have you ever thought that we should explain ourselves to you? We speak in the sight of God, in Christ. But all things, most beloved, are for your edification.

Yet I fear, lest perhaps, when I have arrived, I might not find you such as I would want, and I might be found by you, such as you would not want. For perhaps there may be among you: contention, envy, animosity, dissension, detraction, whispering, self-exaltation, and rebellion.

If so, then, when I have arrived, God may again humble me among you. And so, I mourn for the many who sinned beforehand, and did not repent, over the lust and fornication and homosexuality, which they have committed.(d)

Fußnoten

(a)12:9 The word ‘virtus’ can mean power or it can mean virtue; in the Christian context, and in any context referring to God, it really means both. In God, virtue and power are the same; in Christians, our power is in our virtue, and not in worldly power.(Conte)

(b)12:9 Power is made perfect:The strength and power of God more perfectly shines forth in our weakness and infirmity; as the more weak we are of ourselves, the more illustrious is his grace in supporting us, and giving us the victory under all trials and conflicts.(Challoner)

(d)12:21 The word immunditia refers to uncleanness, but in this context it is not the ritual uncleanness of the Old Testament, but an uncleanness of heart with respect to sexuality, in other words, lust. The word impudicitia can refer to serious sexual immorality in general, but it often is used to refer to homosexuality. Since the other words in this list refer more generally to sexual immorality, this word must refer to the more specific sin of homosexuality (otherwise the word would be redundant and unnecessary to the sentence). Notice the progression in this list of offenses: first inner sexual sins, then fornication, then a more serious type of fornication, homosexuality.(Conte)

It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast, but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows.

I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),

how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Paul’s Thorn and God’s Grace

On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me or hears from me.

By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.

Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works.

For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?

Even so, I myself didn’t burden you. But you might say that being crafty, I caught you with deception.

Did I take advantage of you by anyone of those whom I have sent to you?

I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?

Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

For I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that perhaps there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,

that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.