2 Corinthians 12

     It is useless to speculate about the exact order of events in Paul’s life after his conversion.  We know he started out in Damascus, was in the wilderness for a time where he apparently had revelations from the Lord.  Then he returned to Damascus for a time.  After three years, he went to Jerusalem to see Peter for fifteen days (see Gal.1:11-18).  The visions alluded to here probably refer to later ones as he began his missions to the Gentiles.  John also gives us glimpses, though in symbols, of the sorts of revelations Paul had, where he saw inexpressible things by revelation of the Lord Jesus (4; cf. Rev.1:1-2).  The point is that Paul got his authority as an apostle, and his instruction, directly from Christ.  After seeing visions and hearing revelations, which he received from the Lord (1), he was never again the same man, and the world was his home only to the extent that obedience and the love for the saints required it for a time (Php.1:21-24).

     12:1-4.  Much as we do, the Jews conceived of the three heavens: 1. The aerial heaven; 2. The starry heaven; 3. The highest heaven, by which they meant the immediate presence of God.  It was to this third heaven that Paul was caught up, he knew not how, and could not speak of the glory of it.

     12:5-10.  One of the answers to the mystery of why we suffer is given here.  Though God always knows why, we often don’t.  But Paul knew something of why he suffered.  It was to keep him from exalting himself as one who knew, really knew, that he was loved of God.  And it was to perfect God’s power in him, for the weak must rely on God and his grace alone (9-10).  Was Christ ever stronger than when he was weak?  He defeated Satan while he was helpless on the cross.  In the grave, he destroyed death (13:4; Php.2:8-9).  He is our great champion, the ruddy youth who has slain the great giant with a stone from the brook, and has hewn off his head with his own great sword (1 Sam.17:40 ff.). 

     12:7, note.  No one but the smuggest literalists knows what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was.  To the rest of us who assume the thorn was metaphorical, we may speculate to our hearts content, but never know.  The best solution I have heard is to supply your own particular misery.  Sad to say, that’s the only way most of us can truly sympathize.

     12:11.  Paul sarcastically titles Satan’s false apostles according to their own estimation (cf.11:5, 13).

     12:12.  The sign of a true apostle is, first of all, that he preaches the true gospel.  But true apostles also were accompanied by attesting miracles to confirm their new revelation as being from God, for the message was accompanied by God’s power.  From the apostles’ hands, it seems, others could receive the gift to work miracles, but not the unique gift to pass on such gifts of the Holy Spirit to others.  When the age of the apostles was over, the New Testament revelation was complete, and the miracles to confirm it ceased (see WCF 1:1; cf. Heb.1:1-2; 2:3-4; Acts 2:22, 43; 5:12; 8:13-18; 14:3; 15:12).  In Acts 8:13-18, Philip had the gift to work miracles, but could not give others such visible gifts of the Holy Spirit. They came only by the hands of the apostles.  See also Mark 16:20; John 10:37-38; 15:24-27.  There are false wonders done by false apostles, but they promote a perverted gospel, and bring glory to men, not to God (Mt.24:24; John 7:18; 8:49-50; Gal.1:6-10; 2 Thess.2:9-12; Jude 3).

     During the reformation, the Papist’s demanded to know what miracles the reformers had to confirm their new revelation.  The answer they got was that the only miracles the reformers had or needed were those of Christ and his apostles, since their only revelation was that confirmed by the miracles of the Scriptures.  It was the Papists themselves who deluded people with continuous miracles, and that of a foolish, ridiculous, vain, and false kind (Calvin, Institutes, Prefatory Address to King Francis).

     12:14-18.  Here Paul appeals to their knowledge of him and their good sense, using a bit of sarcasm (16) to cut off the obviously false charge that he has enriched himself through his fellow workers, such as Titus.

     12:19.  This is a clear statement that Paul claims divine inspiration and authority to speak in Christ (cf. 10:8; 13:10).

     12:20-21.  He also has authority in the church to act for Christ, a thing those still acting in disobedience of Christ should take to heart before his visit.  These are behaviors neither Paul nor Christ wish to find in the church when they come.