Year Two, October 18

I Must Go on Boasting. Though There Is Nothing to Be Gained by It1

In today’s reading we will conclude Paul’s defense of his apostleship.

  

2 Corinthians 12:1-19

1I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. (The most modest man may be driven to speak his own praises if his usefulness is threatened by the false accusations of enemies.) 2I 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. 3And 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-- 4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.

Paul had kept this secret for fourteen years. He was clearly not inclined to boast.

6Though 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. 7So to keep me from becoming conceited because of by 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. (There is only a step between boasting in the Lord and boasting about one’s self, and our nature is inclined to take that step. Pride is one of the worst tragedies. Therefore our Lord sends us sharp trials to keep us humble. A thorn pierces, cuts and becomes infected; and yet it is only a little thing. It is very small and yet very painful. Paul had a secret sorrow that tormented him like school principals who punish boys. Whatever it was, it must have been an embarrassment to him.)

8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (One evening, John Bunyan was in a meeting of Christian people who were full of sadness and terror. Suddenly, there “broke in upon him with great power—and repeated three times—the words,” ‘My grace is sufficient for you. My grace is sufficient for you. My grace is sufficient for you.’ And ‘Oh! I thought,’ says he, ‘that every word was a mighty word unto me. “My,” and “grace,” and “sufficient,” and “for you,” were then and sometimes still are, far bigger words than others.’”2)  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

11I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.

The Corinthians should not have required Paul to defend himself. They should have been among his warmest supporters.

12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

14Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15I will most gladly spend and be spent for yours souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? (What a Christian spirit! He will not stop seeking their good, no matter how badly they treat him.) 16But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? (He accepted nothing for himself and did not expect them to pay his friends expenses either. He served them in the most selfless way.) 18I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

19Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. (It was shameful that a good man like Paul was troubled by such petty objections. May God grant that none of us will be remembered by our church as resentful members and opposers of faithful ministers.)

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¹ 2 Corinthians 12:1

² The “sadness and terror” at that meeting were most likely due to the harsh treatment of Christians at that time. Bunyan wrote his Pilgrim’s Progress inside a jail where he had been imprisoned for preaching the gospel. Quote appears to be taken from The Pulpit Commentary.