2 Corinthians 12King James Version
Paul tells of being caught up to the third heaven. Then a thorn in the flesh. He prays three times for it to be removed. The answer: 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.
Paul announces his third visit to Corinth, warning that he will not spare when he arrives. He urges the Corinthians to examine themselves and prove that Christ is in them. He describes his own weakness not as failure but as correspondence with Christ crucified in weakness and living by the power of God. He closes with a benediction: grace, love, and the communion of the Holy Ghost to them all.
Self-examination before the visit of an apostle is not anxiety; it is the invitation to confirm that Christ is genuinely present, which is both the best preparation and the best outcome.
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." (2 Corinthians 13:11) The closing is not a formality; it summarizes the entire letter's pastoral goal: a church that is whole, comforted, unified, and at peace.
A letter that began in near-death ends in benediction. Paul has traveled emotionally from the edge of despair in Asia to the warmth of Titus's report to the sharp edge of apostolic warning. And then the last line is grace, love, communion. The God of love and peace shall be with you.
Paul, preparing for his third visit and willing to use authority to correct what is wrong. The Corinthians, urged to examine themselves. Christ, who was crucified in weakness but lives by the power of God, and in whom Paul sees the template for his own ministry.
The final chapter completes the arc that began in chapter 1. Paul opened by blessing the God of comfort amid suffering; he closes by commanding the Corinthians to be of good comfort, live in peace, and receive the God of love and peace. The Trinitarian benediction in verse 14 is one of the earliest such formulations in the New Testament and brings the most personal of Paul's letters to a close with the fullness of divine presence.
Paul ends not with a rebuke but with a blessing. After all the defense, the tears, the catalog of suffering, what he wants most for these people is peace.
1It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2I 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.
3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6For 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.
7And 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.
8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9And 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.
10Therefore 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.
11I 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.
12Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13For 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.
14Behold, 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.
15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
16But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
17Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
18I 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?
19Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20For 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:
21And 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.