Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Corinthians 12

Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross
Introduction

1  For commending of his apostleship, though he might glory of his wonderful revelations,
9  yet he rather chooses to glory of his infirmities;
11  blaming them for forcing him to this vain boasting.
14  He promises to come to them again; but yet altogether in the affection of a father;
20  although he fears he shall to his grief find many offenders, and public disorders there.
Verse 1

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
expedient
8:10, John 16:7, 18:14, 1 Corinthians 6:12, 10:23
to glory
11, 11:16-30
I will come
Gr. For I will come. visions.
7, Numbers 12:6, Ezekiel 1:1-28, 11:24, Daniel 10:5-10, Joel 2:28,29, Acts 9:10-17, Acts 18:9, 22:17-21, 23:11, 26:13-19, Galatians 1:12, 2:2, 1 John 5:20
Verse 2

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
knew
3,5
in Christ
5:17,21, 13:5, Isaiah 45:24,25, John 6:56, 15:4-6, 17:21-23, Romans 8:1, Romans 16:7, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Galatians 1:22, 5:6
about
"A.D 46, at Lystra."
Acts 14:6, 22:17
in the
5:6-8, 1 Kings 18:12, 2 Kings 2:16, Ezekiel 8:1-3, 11:24, Acts 8:39,40, 22:17, Philippians 1:22,23, Revelation 1:10, 4:2
God
3, 11:11
caught
4, Luke 24:51, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Hebrews 9:24, Revelation 12:5
third
Genesis 1:14-20, 1 Kings 8:27, Isaiah 57:15
Verse 4

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
paradise
Ezekiel 31:9, Luke 23:43, Revelation 2:7
lawful
or, possible.
Verse 5

Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
such
yet
9,10, 11:30
Verse 6

For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
I would
10:8, 11:16, 1 Corinthians 3:5,9,10
I will
1:18, 11:31, Job 24:25, Romans 9:1
above that
7, 10:9,10
Verse 7

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
lest
10:5, 11:20, Deuteronomy 8:14, 17:20, 2 Chronicles 26:16, 32:25,26,31, Daniel 5:20, 1 Timothy 3:6
the abundance
a thorn
Genesis 32:25,31, Judges 2:3, Ezekiel 28:24, Galatians 4:13
the messenger
Job 2:7, Luke 13:16, 1 Corinthians 5:5
to buffet
Matthew 26:67, 1 Corinthians 4:11
Verse 8

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
I besought
Deuteronomy 3:23-27, 1 Samuel 15:11, 2 Samuel 12:16-18, Psalms 77:2-11, Matthew 20:21,22, Matthew 26:39-44, Hebrews 5:7
Verse 9

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
My grace
10, 3:5,6, Exodus 3:11,12, 4:10-15, Deuteronomy 33:25-27, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 43:2, Jeremiah 1:6-9, Matthew 10:19,20, Luke 21:15, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 15:10, Colossians 1:28,29, 1 Timothy 1:14, Hebrews 4:16
for
Psalms 8:2, Isaiah 35:3,4, 40:29-31, 41:13-16, Daniel 10:16-19, Ephesians 3:16, Philippians 4:13, Colossians 1:11, Hebrews 11:34
Most
10,15, Matthew 5:11,12
glory
5, 11:30
the power
2 Kings 2:15, Isaiah 4:5,6, 11:2, Zephaniah 3:17, Matthew 28:18,20, 1 Peter 4:13,14
Verse 10

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
I take
1:4, 4:8-10,17, 7:4, Acts 5:41, Romans 5:3, 8:35-39, Philippians 1:29, 2:17,18, Colossians 1:24, James 1:2, 1 Peter 1:6,7, 4:13,14
in infirmities
11:23-30
for Christ's
4:5,11, 10:18, Luke 6:22, John 15:21, 1 Corinthians 4:10, Revelation 2:3
for when
9, 13:4,9, Ephesians 6:10
Verse 11

I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
become
1:6, 11:1,16,17
for in
12, 11:5, 1 Corinthians 3:4-7,22, Galatians 2:6-14
though
Luke 17:10, 1 Corinthians 3:7, 15:8-10, Ephesians 3:8
Verse 12

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
4:2, 6:4-10, 11:4,6, Romans 15:18,19, 1 Corinthians 1:5-7, 9:2, 14:18
Verse 13

For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
I myself
14, 11:8,9, 1 Corinthians 9:6,12,15-18
forgive
11:7
Verse 14

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
the third
That is, the third time I have purposed to visit you. See the parallel passages.
1:15, 13:1, 1 Corinthians 4:19, 11:34, 16:5
for I
Proverbs 11:30, Acts 20:33, 1 Corinthians 10:33, Philippians 4:1,17, 1 Thessalonians 2:5,6,8,19,20, 1 Peter 5:2-4
for the
Genesis 24:35,36, 31:14,15, Proverbs 13:22, 19:14, 1 Corinthians 4:14,15, 1 Thessalonians 2:11
Verse 15

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
will
9, 1:6,14, 2:3, 7:3, John 10:10,11, Galatians 4:10, Philippians 2:17, Colossians 1:24, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, 2 Timothy 2:10
you
Gr. your souls.
14, Hebrews 13:17
though
6:12,13, 2 Samuel 13:39, 17:1-4, 18:33, 1 Corinthians 4:8-18
Verse 16

But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
I did not
13, 11:9,10
being
That is, as my enemies represent.
1:12, 4:2, 7:2, 10:2,3, 1 Thessalonians 2:3,5, 1 Peter 2:3
Verse 17

Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
18, 2 Kings 5:16,20-27, 1 Corinthians 4:17, 16:10
Verse 18

I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
Titus
2:12,13, 7:2,6
with
8:6,18
walked we not in the same spirit
8:6,16-23, Philippians 2:19-22
in the same steps
Numbers 16:15, 1 Samuel 12:3,4, Nehemiah 5:14, Acts 20:33-35, Romans 4:12, 1 Peter 2:21
Verse 19

Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
think
3:1, 5:12
we speak
11:10,31, Romans 9:1
but
5:13, 10:8, 13:10, 1 Corinthians 9:12-23, 10:33, 14:26
dearly
15, 7:1, Romans 12:19, 1 Corinthians 10:14, Philippians 4:1
Verse 20

For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
I shall not
21, 13:9
and that
1:23,24, 2:1-3, 10:2,6,8,9, 13:2,10, 1 Corinthians 4:18-21, 5:3-5
debates
1 Corinthians 1:11, 3:3,4, 4:6-8,18, 6:7,8, 11:16-19, 14:36,37, Galatians 5:15,19-21, Galatians 5:26, Ephesians 4:31,32, James 3:14-16, 4:1-5, 1 Peter 2:1
whisperings
Psalms 41:7, Proverbs 16:28, Romans 1:29
swellings
2 Peter 2:18, Jude 1:16
Verse 21

And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
my God
7, 8:24, 9:3,4
that I
2:1-4, Exodus 32:31, Deuteronomy 9:15,25, 1 Samuel 15:35, Ezra 9:3, 10:1, Psalms 119:136, Jeremiah 9:1, 13:17, Luke 9:41,42, Romans 9:2, Philippians 3:18,19
sinned
13:2
and have not
2:5-11, 7:9-11, 10:6, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Revelation 22:20
uncleanness
Romans 13:13, 1 Corinthians 5:1,9-11, 6:15-18, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 5:5,6, Colossians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, Hebrews 13:4, 1 Peter 4:2,3, 2 Peter 2:10-14,18, Jude 1:7,23, Revelation 21:8, 22:15

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