By Doug Bell
2 Corinthians 12:
3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—
4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses-
6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,fn a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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Paul had begun his "boasting" in chapter 11, and continues it in chapter 12. After all his hard work in Corinth, the Church had let in some false apostles,
accepting them over Paul and his companions. So the 'true' apostle is forced to recommend himself to the Church once again! Hence, his boasting.
Paul begins by telling a 'story' of a vision? Or was it a physical experience? He was unsure!
2 "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.
3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—"
It really doesn't matter, what does matter though was 'what' he experienced. The Apostle was given in this vision something so special, so remarkable;
4 "and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter."
Paul was given "Secret Revelations," that weren't meant for anyone but him! He was so blessed by God! After Jesus Christ has there been anyone else so used by God? But, said Paul:
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
A "messenger of Satan," in order to harass him, torments the Apostle with a 'thorn in the flesh. Why would God allow this to happen? Because Paul was shown such great things, things that "cannot be told, which man may not utter." He may have become too proud, maybe even arrogant! So, the Lord allowed this soldier of Satan to torment him, that this wouldn't happen.
We've already speculated what Paul's thorn in the flesh might have been (Chaper 10). While we can't be sure of exactly what it was, it bothered him so much that he continued to ask God to take it away!
8 "Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me."
What we may not want in our lives, may be exactly what we need. The Lord, who knew Paul's heart, decided this was exactly what Paul needed!
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
This may sound strange to our earthly ears. But as in the Old Testament, as well as the New, we are the strongest spiritually when we are the most "dependent" upon God. As Paul told the Galatians;
3 "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?"
Why, Oh why, when we know All of salvation is of God, do we think we are going to finish the Christian life through our own strength? Far too many Christians have had their Christian life ruined by fleshly self-effort! It only leads to shame and self-defeat. We will become angry, burnt out, and confused. It leads to questioning God, "Why aren't you using me?" Forgetting that God won't share His glory with another;
29 so that no human beingfn might boast in the presence of God.
31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
The Apostle finally understands the lesson and comes to the conclusion:
9b "...Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I pray that we all can learn this lesson of Paul, so we won't have to receive a "thorn in the flesh," But,
remember these words:
5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
And
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4).