Oct. 16, 2024

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

HILLTOP LAKES CHAPEL

OCTOBER 16, 2024

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations 

of the Lord. 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— 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, 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.

__________

v 1 – “I must go on boasting…”

Paul has a dilemma—which keeps manifesting itself. He must share his experience and calling 

and qualifications in order to maintain credibility against critics and those who are attacking 

the gospel—but he does not want to glorify himself in any way, as he realizes that all is from 

God.

The sense here: “Needs be that I boast, although nothing is being gained by it”

Paul is continuing to give an account of himself

“visions and revelations of the Lord”—both the visions and the revelations are “of the Lord”

revelation – apokálypsis, uncovering, unveiling, revealing

Now, as in Paul’s day, one must be discerning of a person who is sharing “visions and 

revelations.” Any vision or revelation that is of God will never conflict with God’s 

word or teach a different gospel, certainly to include that it will never seek to 

diminish Christ.

“I know a man in Christ…”

Paul is speaking of himself

But what he received is so completely from God, he does not want to even hint at taking any 

credit by speaking of himself in the first person

“fourteen years ago” – can certainly be accepted at face value. Paul also cites a previous 

occurrence of the very same interval in Galatians 2:1, an interesting coincidence.

“to the third heaven”

more lit. “until [heós] the third heaven” or “as far as the third heaven”

This description of the place is drawn from Paul’s understanding of how things are arranged, 

based on ideas of the day and very possibly from his previous studies (particularly 2 Enoch).

2

Paul (and the Scripture) are completely truthful about where Paul went—and that place was 

referred to as the “third heaven.” If we say that he didn’t know what to call that place—what 

do we then call it?

“whether in the body or out of the body…”

Interesting. At face value, we know exactly what he meant. Or we think we do, and perhaps we 

should not press the point too much—because Paul himself was not sure of the physical 

nature of his being caught up to another place.

v 3 – “and I know that this man was caught up into Paradise…”

Paradise is the dwelling place of God and those who are his, a kind of Garden of Eden eternally 

restored.

“And [Jesus] said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”—

Luke 23:43

“To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of 

God.”—Revelation 2:7

v 4 – “and he heard things…”

more lit. “and he heard unutterable utterances” – árrhētos [a +rhetos] rhema; the unspeakable

spoken

more lit. “that are not being permitted/lawful for man to speak”

“And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from 

heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”—

Revelation 10:4

Why would God have Paul and John report that they heard something, but that what they heard 

may not be shared or spoken?

Perhaps as a reminder that we do not know everything. God does not tell us everything. There 

are things that are beyond us. There are even words that we are not being allowed to speak.

v 5 – “On behalf of this man I will boast…”

Paul reiterates that while he will steadfastly affirm God’s call upon his life and work in his life—

he is just the recipient and he takes no credit for himself. A good example for all Christians.

“except of my weakness” – more to come on this…

“though if I should wish to boast…”

These amazing things really happened, they are the truth! And if Paul did chose to 

emphasize them, he would not be foolish in so doing

“but I refrain from it…”

Because Paul is not seeking to promote himself

v 7 – “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the 

revelationsa

…”

A translation question here with vv 6-7

more lit. “so that no should credit more than what he sees in me and anyone hears of me and 

[kai] the surpassing greatness of the revelations, because of which a thorn was given me…”

a Or hears from me, even because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited

[ESV note]

3

“So to keep me from being conceited…

“conceited” – hyperairó, to raise oneself above, to exalt oneself—more implications than just 

being conceited (cf 2 Thessalonians 2:4)

“a thorn in the flesh was given to me”

“was given” – an interesting verb

“a messenger [angelos] of Satan to harass me, to keep me from exalting myself.”

We do not know what the thorn in the flesh was. There is speculation that it could be referring to 

a physical condition with Paul’s eyes, or some other physical condition. But we do not know.

“harass” – kolaphizó, to strike with the fist

Whatever it was, it was ongoing and adversarial—and it seemed to rule out any chance Paul 

would have had of exalting himself

v 8 – “Three times…”

Not once…

“I pleaded with the Lord about this—that it should depart from me…”

v 9 – “And [kai] he said…”

more lit. “My grace suffices you.” It is an active verb. Then…

more lit. “for (the) power in weakness is perfected”

“power” – dynamis, ability to accomplish what is desired

“perfected” – teleó - completed in its purpose

“weakness” – astheneia – infirmity, illness

A paraphrase: “My grace keeps you going with all that you need, because one’s ability to 

accomplish all that is desired develops and reaches maturity through the challenges of 

weakness.”

“Therefore I will boast…”

more lit. “Most gladly then rather will I boast in my weaknesses…”

Not reluctantly—most gladly

In the midst of all of this, God is using me, and his ability in and through me to accomplish his 

purposes is being fulfilled!

“so that the power of Christ…”

“may rest upon” - episkénoó, to tent upon

So, “so that the power of Christ may be spread over me as a tent”!

v 10 – “For the sake of Christ…”

actually, a continuation

more lit. “on which account, I am well pleased [eudokeó]…”

“with weaknesses…”

Paul places an “in” before each item for emphasis, just like we still do when emphasizing things 

in a list

“I am well pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, and distresses for 

Christ.”

(This was his life!)

4

“For when I am weak…”

more lit. “when I might be weak…”

“…then I am strong.

“strong” – dynatós, usually translated “possible,” but also strong, mighty. This is the 

adjective form of dynamis (above), usually translated “power.”

We don’t want to miss Paul’s use of the cognate—a more consistent translation would be 

“For when I might be weak, then I am powerful.”

And since we understand that dynamis, power, means God’s ability to accomplish 

whatever he desires… his ability … his effectiveness

And we understand that Paul is referencing the power of Christ

“When I might be weak, ill, afflicted , persecuted —then I am dwelling in the tent of 

Christ’s power."