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Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.
Paul continues his “foolish” boasting by describing an astonishing experience from fourteen years earlier, when a “man in Christ” was caught up to the third heaven—Paradise—and heard things too wonderful to repeat (vv. 1–4). He is clearly talking about himself, but he only tells the story to show that even such great revelations are not the real foundation of his ministry. Instead, he points to a “thorn in the flesh,” a painful, ongoing weakness allowed by God to keep him from becoming conceited (v. 7). Paul begged the Lord three times to take it away, but Jesus answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (vv. 8–9). Because of this, Paul chooses to boast in his weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on him, learning to be content even in insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties—for when he is weak, then he is truly strong in Christ (vv. 9–10).
Paul reminds the Corinthians that they have already seen the marks of a true apostle in his ministry among them: steadfast endurance, and “signs and wonders and mighty works” done in their midst (vv. 11–12). The only way they were “treated worse” than other churches was that Paul refused to be a financial burden, like a spiritual father who gladly spends and is spent for his children (vv. 13–15). He firmly denies any accusation that he or his coworkers used the collection or their visits to take advantage of the Corinthians, pointing instead to their shared integrity (vv. 16–18). As he prepares for a third visit, Paul is concerned he may find ongoing sins—quarreling, jealousy, anger, gossip, and sexual immorality—that would require painful confrontation rather than joyful encouragement (vv. 20–21). Even here, his desire is not to win an argument but to see them strengthened in genuine faith.
🌀 Reflection:
Most of us want God to remove our “thorns”—the weaknesses, limits, or ongoing struggles we feel. Paul reminds us that sometimes God’s answer is not to take them away but to meet us in them with sufficient grace (vv. 7–9). Where do you feel weak today? How might that very place become a platform for Christ’s strength to shine through you?
💬 Mission Challenge:
Share 2 Corinthians 12:9 with someone who is struggling, and send a short note or message reminding them that Jesus’s grace is enough—even when the thorn stays.
Click here to return to the contents page for Phase 2.3 — The Savior, His Church, and the Mission.
Just Keith Harris 