Love
And Concern For Corinth
– Second Corinthians Twelve –
Paul described what he did in 2 Corinthians 11 as foolish
boasting. Now in 2 Corinthians 12 he wrote about a man that was caught up into
the third heaven. The third heaven is called
Paul received a "thorn in the flesh," a "messenger of Satan" to buffet him or to keep him humble. He prayed to the Lord three times for it to be removed but it was not the Lord's will to do so. Instead of removing the thorn God said, "My grace is sufficient for thee." Paul's strength was made perfect in this weakness. Those that recognize their own weakness can find strength in Christ.
It
should never have been necessary for Paul to do the foolish boasting because he
had the "signs of an apostle." He said that his only wrong against these brethren was that he had
not accepted support from them like he had from other churches. Paul closed this chapter by saying to these brethren, "I will very gladly spend and
be spent for you." (2 Corinthians 12:15) He had a deep love for these brethren
and he wanted to find love, faithfulness and commitment to God at
A vision of paradise – 2 Corinthians 12:1-6:
Paul felt that there was nothing to be gained by his boasting. He said that he
would only tell them about the visions and revelations that he had received
from God. The Lord, by means of revelation, gave Paul truths that he would have
never known otherwise. Paul told about a man that was taken up into the third
heaven fourteen years ago. He did not know whether the man was in the body or
not. He did not know but he knew that God knew. He was
marvelously
and swiftly taken or transferred from one place to another.
The first heaven is the region where the birds fly. (Genesis
1:20) The second heaven is that where the sun, stars and moon are located.
(Genesis 22:17) The third heaven is where God's throne is located. (Hebrews
12:2.)
Paul told us that the man was taken up into paradise. In paradise he saw things that were too wonderful to tell. The third heaven was called paradise. The word paradise literally means "pleasure gardens." Paul said, "On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses." Paul would not be so foolish as to boast too much. He did not want anyone to think more highly of him than they should.
A thorn in the flesh – 2 Corinthians
12:7-10: Paul said that one of Satan's angels was sent to make
him suffer terribly. He felt that the purpose of this was to keep him from
becoming conceited. This messenger of Satan brought a
thorn in the flesh to torment Paul. The throne
is described as "something that excites severe and constant pain,
probably some bodily infirmity." Paul begged the Lord three times to take
the thorn in the flesh away. God's reply was, "My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
God power is best seen when we are weak.
Paul realized that his strength came through
his weakness. Therefore, he said that he was
glad to be weak, insulted,
mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for the sake of Christ.
Paul endured this suffering with the desire that good
would come to his own soul and to the
Signs of an apostle
– 2 Corinthians 12:11-13: Paul felt
that he had been forced to make a fool of himself. He knew that he was nothing.
He also knew that he was not at all inferior to these super-apostles at
Both as an apostle and as a preacher Paul
worked at
Paul's concern for
Some at
Paul did not speak the things that he did to
defend himself. He did not need that. He spoke the truth for Christ and he
desired to encourage these brethren.
Paul did not want to come and find
the brethren arguing or jealous or angry or selfish or gossiping or insulting
each other. If he came and found them that way he would feel much sorrow
because that would mean that they never gave up their old sins. How sad it
would be for Paul if they were still doing things that were immoral, indecent,
and shameful.
His desire was to find the Christians
loving each other and conducting themselves decently and orderly.
Will you appreciate Christ and His church enough that you will
prepare to meet God NOW? To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans