2 Corinthians 13:7-10

⁷ Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. ⁸ For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. ⁹ For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. ¹⁰ Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

Commentary

Vs. 7 "Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified."

The Apostle Paul in concluding his exhortation now prays that the Corinthians would do no evil. For it is the Corinthians sanctification (and thus their well being) that was of greatest concern to Paul, and not how their conduct would reflect on him. For ultimately by their doing and pursuing what is honorable in the eyes of the Lord this would not only benefit them, but many others as well, who would be positively affected and influenced by their doing so. For pursuing what is honorable in the eyes of the Lord not only makes for peace and well being in our own lives, but also in the lives of others as well (consider Psalm 34:14-16; 37:27-28; Prov 3:7-8; 16:17; 1 Thess 4:3-4). And so though the Apostle Paul may have seemed disqualified to some of them by carnal and worldly standards, Paul was not so much concerned how he appeared to them, (or anyone else) by those measures, but rather how they all would appear to the Lord, by God's measure of us all.

Vs. 8 "For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth." 

Since the Apostle Paul's whole person was bound up in believing, obeying, and declaring the truth, to knowingly sin against it by doing evil, or allowing evil to take place amongst the Corinthians was not only unthinkable, but also not possible (consider 1 John 3:4-9).

Vs. 9 "For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete."

If the Apostle Paul's being "weak"was a means by which God was making the Corinthians strong in their faith, then Paul would gladly bear it. For the Apostle Paul's prayer was not for himself but that they would be made complete; that is fully grounded and well rounded in their faith In Christ.

Vs. 10 "Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction."

Clearly the Apostle Paul was disappointed with how the Corinthians had allowed themselves to backslide, and or be taken in by the false apostles. And so Paul's writing to them while he was absent was so that he would not have to use sharpness (which implies to sternly and abruptly rebuke, often without due consideration) when he would be amongst them again. Therefore the Apostle Paul did not want to come to them and find them in all manner of disarray and divisiveness, or with all kinds of moral laxity, which would only precipitate his doing so. The Apostle Paul then did not want to use the authority Christ gave him in such a manner. Instead he preferred that he could use it for their edification, and so Paul checks himself here, reminding himself that the authority Christ has given him is for their edification, and not for their destruction. And so that is how he would use it, by first correcting their wayward ways through his first writing to them before visiting them again. 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Additional Resources Consulted
MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1869). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Word Studies 
sharpness, ἀποτόμως: Str. 664; GK 705; TDNT 8.106; LN 88.74 (2 Co 13:10; Tit 1:13) 2x

2 Corinthians 13:1–6

¹ This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” ² I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare—³ since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. ⁴ For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. ⁵ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. ⁶ But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

Commentary

Vs. 1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” 

The Apostle Paul now begins to take a firmer tone as he wants the Corinthians to know that just as he is coming to them for a third time, so he will deal with the unrepentant amongst them if they don't. And so Paul quotes Deuteronomy 19:15 in which God lays forth a principal for dealing with such circumstances. Now that principal is also reflected in Jesus' commandment that we are to follow when dealing with an unrepentant brother or sister in the Lord (see Matt 18:15-20). For though the church is a place where grace is to be found, it is not a place where sin is to be harbored or ignored. "For the wicked prowl on every side when vileness is exalted among the sons of men" Psalm 12:8 

Vs. 2 "I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare—"

The Apostle Paul had previously warned those who were sinning; as well as those who were being complacent about it; that he would deal sternly with them if they did not repent; and now the Apostle Paul says when he comes again, if he still finds them unmoved he will not spare. Likely meaning that such individuals would be put out of Christian fellowship. And so there is always a process of first addressing the offender and the offense directly in the hopes of their repetance and reconcilation, and then if they will not listen to bring two or three witnesses into the matter to see if they will listen to reason and repent. But if not, only then after they have refused to receive correction are they to be permenatly put out of Christian fellowship. And so that three stage process the Apostle Paul is following, and is warning about entering into the third stage in his exhortation here, if he does find the offenders repentant when he comes to them.

Vs. 3 "since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you." 

Apparently some of the Corinthians own carnality had caused them to dismiss (or delay acting on) the Apostle Paul's previous exhortations. And so instead of obeying what was commanded of them, they wanted proof of Paul's Apostleship from Christ, of Christ speaking through him. And since neither Paul's bodily presence, nor his tone of speech was all that commanding or powerful when he was amongst them, some felt they could now challange Paul and his authority as an Apostle of Christ. Therefore in light of that Paul reminds them (that though his own bodily presence appeared weak to them) Christ had not been weak toward them when Paul was ministering the Gospel too them. Indeed Christ had acted not only mightily towards them through Paul, when Paul was there, but Christ was also now working mightily in them, as He had not brought about the regeneration of their persons and live by His Holy Spirit, but He was continuing to work mightily in them, and through them.

Vs. 4 "For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you."

The Apostle Paul now recalls to the Corinthians that though Christ was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. The Savior then did not demonstrate the full Power of His Person through the flesh. Indeed the extent of Christ's Power and Authority was not made known until His Resurrection of dead (see Matt 27:39-44, then Matt. 27:51-54 where the soldiers who initially mocked Jesus at His Crucifixion are there seized with overwhelming fear at His Resurrection). And so though Christ was crucified in weakness yet He lives by power of God. Similarly we too in these mortal bodies are also weak in Him; that is though we are in Him, we still have many fleshly weaknesses, limitations, and frailties, so that nothing that is truly accomplished by God through us can ever be attributed to us. For God demonstrates His Power through our mortal fleshes weaknesses, just as it was when Jesus rose from the dead to the glory of God. Therefore the Apostle Paul though saying we are weak in the flesh with Him, also says that, "we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you." And so it is that we who believe will also live by the Power of God, not only in this life, but also for all eternity we will live forever with Christ and one another, by the power of God.  

Vs. 5-6 ⁵ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. ⁶ But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

The Apostle Paul's exhortation here is so that the Corinthians not only examine themsleves to see whether they are in the faith, but it is to awaken them to their position with God. For everyone who believes in Jesus Christ (and thus are born-again by faith in Him) now have Christ living in them by the Holy Spirit, and thus they don't need to listen to all the spiritual sounding rhetoric of the false apostles, prophets, and teachers, all they need to listen to is our Lord and Saviors voice through His Word given to us all. Therefore only those who don't believe are disqualified, something which the Apostle Paul was not, and not because he was an Apostle, but because his faith and trust was only in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus Christ's Person, Presence, and Power was not only enabling him as His chosen Apostle, but was also being made known through him as well.
Therefore too examine oneself first, (and not someone else), is to see if one's faith is just a profession or a living reality. And thus if ones person and life is united with God by having ones faith exclusively in the Lord Jesus Christ. For salvation is not just a one time event, it is an ongoing and everlasting reality that brings us into a reconciled relationship with God through Christ (John 3:16), and thus changes our persons and lives (Titus 3:3-7). All which begins with seeing ones own need for Christ, and then coming to Him and receiving Him into ones heart and life and thus having everlasting life by faith in His Person (John 1:12; 3:16; Rev. 3:20). And thus not ideologies, religious works, denominations, Bible translations, prayers, Christian service, or whatever else people hold up as trying to make themselves, or anyone else accepted in the sight of Lord. Rather it all begins with simply coming to the Lord Jesus Christ and trusting His atoning sacrifice done on the cross for us all. And then just let all that you then do be an outworking of Christ's life within you. For the moment anyone believes in Jesus crucified and risen from the dead, they will receive the gift of God's salvation for us all, by His Holy Spirit, who brings new and everlasting life into us the moment we believe (Eph. 1:13-14). For there are many things that people do and hold up and believe that they think makes them a Christian, and forget that it all begins and ends with the Lord Jesus Christ crucified out of God's love and desire to save us all who believe in Him from the wrath to come. Everything else then that we do adds nothing to what Christ has already done for us all. Therefore all that now needs to be done by us is to believe Him and receive Him, everything else then that is good and kind, and eternal, and thus is revealing of the Kingdom of heaven on earth, will be an outworking of His love and life in ours. If you believe and would like to receive the Lord Jesus Christ then simply ask Him into your heart and life, as Jesus says: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

2 Corinthians 12:14-21

¹⁴ Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ¹⁵ And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. ¹⁶ But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! ¹⁷ Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? ¹⁸ I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps? ¹⁹ Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. ²⁰ For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; ²¹ lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

Commentary

Vs. 14 "Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children."

The Apostle Paul's now declares that this is the third time he has been ready to come to them. The first visit to the Corinthians is recorded in Acts 18:1, the second visit is alluded too in 2 Cor. 2:1, the third visit, which the Apostle Paul refers to here, is being spoken of in the light of the Corinthians ongoing disobedience (see 2 Cor. 13:1-2); though Paul's tone here is more conciliatory than it is there, since his emphasis is not on the Corinthians themselves here, rather in verses 14-19, Paul is making the case of his love and Apostleship for them, and how he and those whom he sent to them all walked in the same spirit; that is they were not a financial burden to any of the Corinthians, nor would he be when he came to them again.  For as the Apostle Paul states here, "I do not seek yours, but you." For Paul was not interested in acquiring wealth or possessions from the Corinthians; now contrast that attitude with the false apostles, prophets, and teachers; both then and now, whose heart and eyes are only set on their own material gain; who only misuse the gospel to try to enrich themselves by promising wealth and prosperity to all those they are exploiting through it, see 1 Tim. 6:5-10; 2 Peter 2:1-3, 14-17 etc.). No Paul's heart and eyes were only set on the Corinthians as beloved believers and friends, and thus on having and developing a deeper and more enriching relationship with them all. Thus Paul as a "father" of their faith says of his own "parental" responsibilities towards them all that, "the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children." And so again Paul by saying as much is revealing not only his heart towards them all; but also a guiding principal of his ministry and life, something which again clearly distinguishes him from the false apostles, who have little interest in those they "minister" the Gospel too when the well runs dry for them. 

Vs. 15 "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved."

Paul's love and concern for the Corinthians (indeed all believers) was so deep and genuine that he would very gladly spend his lives energies and abilities that God gave him, and thus he himself would very gladly be spent (by God) on all our faith and souls (also see Phil 2:17). Now as true as that is, the Apostle also sadly acknowledges that, "though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved." For the Corinthians it seems, through their own carnality and or spiritual immaturity, were still being blinded to deeper and richer things of life. 

Vs. 16 "But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning!" 

And so as an outworking of Paul's love for them all, he quite intentionally did not burden any of them. Therefore whatever Paul's detractors were saying about him for not taking any remuneration from them, Paul's singular motive was not to be a burden to any of them. Now Paul also indirectly takes up another slighting critique of his person, and that was though Paul himself did not take any money from them, Paul had sent others to the Corinthians to get money from them. Now in response to that false accusation, Paul again reminds them that he did not burden any of them, (unlike the false apostles), but instead being crafty he caught them by cunning, which is Paul basically turning his false accusers rhetoric on their own heads. For they were accusing Paul of being crafty and deceitful; of employing others to try to get remuneration indirectly from the Corinthians through that offering. All which must have not only been unbearable to hear, but extremely hurtful, considering that both he and those sent by him all walked in the same spirit of honesty, transparency, and altogether upright integrity. Again neither Paul, nor those whom he sent to them, in any way profited from any of the Corinthians offering to support those brethren in need. Thus Paul's catching the Corinthians by "cunning" here is only in regards to his own (and those he sent to them) impeccable conduct before them, all which is turning his detractors words against them. For they had been telling the Corinthians that Paul only sent Titus, or others to get something from them; which again must have been devastating to hear, given all that both Paul and Titus did to walk so blamelessly before them.  

Vs. 17 "Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?"

Therefore in light of the things being spoken against Paul by Paul's detractors, the Apostle Paul now directly asks them: "Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?" Since the Corinthians were listening too the slander of Paul's detractors then they really ought to first consider the Apostle's own conduct, as well as the conduct of those he sent to them. For looking back at the historical account, neither Paul, nor those whom he sent to them ever ask anything from them. And when the collection was taken up for the saints in Jerusalem, Paul left it up to the Corinthians to decide who would both handle and deliver their offering (see 1 Cor 16:1-4). Therefore in no way can either Paul or any of those he sent to them be justly charged with taking advantage of the Corinthians in any way at all. 

Vs. 18 "I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?"


And so the Apostle Paul now reminds them that when he sent Titus, he not only urged him he also sent another brother in the Lord with him, so as to leave no room for either Paul or Titus' integrity to be called into question (2 Cor 8:16-21). Therefore having stated as much Paul now asks them, "Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?" If Paul was guilty of anything it was in being overly cautious, of wanting to leave Corinthians feeling that both he and those he sent to them could be and should be trusted. And so neither Paul nor Titus took advantage of the Corinthians, for both were, when amongst them, self-supporting (i.e. they worked with their own hands) or when necessary they were supported by other churches. That is what Paul means when he says that both he and Titus walked in the same steps and spirit. For both men had their hearts and minds set on establishing the Corinthians in their faith first and foremost (2 Cor 8:16). And so if not being financially supported by them, built trust between them and the Corinthians, while freeing the Corinthians to support those brethren in Jerusalem in need, so be it.

Vs. 19 "Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification." 

Now in case the Corinthians mistake Paul's words as some sort of defense before them, or even his detractors, the Apostle Paul makes it clear that in stating all these things he is not defending himself, rather he is speaking as before God in Christ. That is as if he were in the presence of God and telling Him all that he did in ministering the Gospel to them, with the best of his abilities. Therefore Paul wants them all to know that they are beloved, and that all that he does, and has been doing, (specifically in writing this Epistle) is for their edification. 

Vs. 20-21 ²⁰ For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; ²¹ lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

The Apostle Paul was planning to come to them, and by writing to them first, Paul wanted them all to have time to resolve their personal conflicts, and start living in harmony with the Gospel and love peace with one another, so that when he did come, it would be in spirit of gentleness and love, and not with a "rod" of correction (consider 1 Cor. 4:21). For Paul did not want to come to the Corinthians and find the Corinthians still living carnally, as he says in verse twenty, "lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;" all which only testify to living by the works of the flesh, and not the Spirit of God (see Gal. 5:19-26). And so Paul wanted the Corinthians to start doing and pursuing those things that will testify to their ongoing Spiritual growth and maturity, by their putting away the works and ways of their old sinful nature (consider Titus 3:3-7). Now in verse twenty one, Paul's exhortation to repent takes on a personal appeal, in that Paul did not want to God humble him among them. For Paul himself felt a great burden and sadness when he was told that there were some among the Corinthians who had not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they had practiced. And so Paul knowing that those who practice such things while living in Christian fellowship; if they don't repent; will only lead to the Living Christ having to deal directly with them (consider Rev. 12:14-23). And so Paul now appeals for their repentance, because those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; also see 1 Thess. 4:7-8). 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Additional Resources Consulted
Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1867). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

2 Corinthians 12:11-13

¹¹ I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. ¹² Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. ¹³ For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Commentary

Vs.11 "I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing."

In retelling all things the Apostle Paul had by the good hand of the Lord upon him gone through and survived, Paul now feels that his boasting was foolish. But as the Apostle Paul says here, the Corinthians compelled him by their receiving the false apostles own boasting, by which they were trying to undermine the Corinthians confidence in Paul. Therefore the Apostle Paul felt he had no other recourse to prove to them that whatever these most "eminent" apostles were portraying themselves to be, he was more so the reality of all they were claiming to be. Now Paul in saying that he was in no way their inferior, checks himself in this by saying, "though I am nothing." Meaning that all that Paul was, and had accomplished as an Apostle of Christ, should in no way be attributed to himself, but only to the Lord Jesus Christ who both made him, and was sustaining him, as one of His own chosen Apostles. 

Vs. 12 "Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds."

 If all of that the Apostle Paul had retold to them, did not now move the Corinthians to reconsider how they were now wrongly judging Paul. Paul also reminds them that, "Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds." For long before the false apostles came on the scene, the Holy Spirit gave mighty evidence to the Lord Jesus Christ's, life, death, and Resurrection power through the Apostle Paul. Thus it wasn't just the mighty endurance the Lord gave Paul, which was giving evidence of his Apostleship as coming from Christ, it was all the signs, wonders, and mighty deeds of an Apostle that were accomplished among the Corinthians, while Paul was going through all these things, that is the undeniable proof of Paul's apostleship as truly coming from Christ. Now the word translated sign here is referring too a supernatural sign/miracle done by Holy Spirit power, often to reveal something, or someone (i.e. John 2:1-11 when the disciples chosen by Christ believed in Him, which could be contrasted with the Jews ongoing unbelief in John 12:35-40, 37 where Jesus rebukes them for it). And so this word in the N.T. is used positively of both the Lord Jesus Christ's signs and miracles; which again authenticated His Person and Ministry as coming from God (Hebrews 2:4); as well in regards to the signs and miracles done by Christ's chosen Apostles, which again authenticated them as coming from Him (see Mark 16:17; Acts 4:29-31; 14:3; 15:12 etc.). Thus these signs give evidence of Divine Authority (HIBD). On the other hand this word in the N.T. is also used; and significantly less; in the negative sense of Satan and his false apostles and prophets doing and showing lying signs in the last days (see Matt 24:3; 2 Thess 2:9; Rev. 13:13-14; 16:14; 19:20 etc.). Therefore in light of this we must be discerning, and not accept every spiritual sign or miracle as coming from God (1 John 4:1-3). Which is a very strong reason why we do not now look for these kinds of things today, because we now walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). And so in the last days when all kinds of lying signs and wonders will be shown by Satan and his own, we will know not to receive, or have anything to do with them (consider Matt. 24:23-26), because the next sign that God will show in those days, will be the sign of the Coming of the Son of Man with great glory and power, and then all the people who did not receive the love of the truth, will mourn when Christ returns for us all who believe in Him (Matthew 24:27-31). Now regarding the Apostle Paul also doing great wonders and mighty deeds, wonders are the those supernatural works done by Holy Spirit power that inspire great awe or even terror (consider Acts 2:43; 15:12; Rom 15:18-19), while mighty deeds are direct demonstrations of Holy Spirit power (sometimes also translated as miracles). And thus that words usage in describing the Apostle Paul's mighty deeds is fairly extensive in the book of Acts (see Acts 14:8-10; 16:16-18; 19:11, 12; 20:6-12; 28:1-10, taken from NKJ reference). 

Vs. 13 "For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!"

Given all that the Lord did and accomplished through the Apostle Paul, while Paul was amongst them, the Corinthians in no way were inferior to any of the other churches. And so if the false apostles had portrayed the Corinthians as being anything other then equal with all the other churches,(in all things and in everything done by and through the Spirit of God) then they themselves were the ones to be rebuked and rejected, not the Apostle Paul. And so as a kind of pun, the Apostle Paul now says that only in regards to his not being a burden to any of them were they to be distinguished from any other churches where the false apostles had not taken root. For the false apostles were nothing but a burden, financially, and in every other way, wherever they themselves dwelt and were allowed to be established. And so Paul says, "forgive me this wrong!"

Word Studies 

Vs. 12 sign: σημεῖον, Str 4592; GK 4956; TDNT 7.200; TDNTA 1015; LN 33.477 (Matt. 12:38-39; 16:1, 3,4; 24:3, 24, 30; 26:48; Mark 8:11-12; 13:4, 22; 16:17, 20; Luke 2:12, 34; 11:16, 29, 30; 21:7, 11, 25; 23:8; John 2:11, 18, 23; 3:2; 4:48, 54; 6:2, 14, 26, 30; 7:31; 9:16; 10:41; 11:47; 12:18, 37;
20:30; 2:19, 22, 43; 4:16, 22, 30; 5:12; 6:8; 7:36; 8:6, 13; 14:3; 15:12; Rom 4:11; 5:19; 1 Cor 1:22; 14:22; 2 Cor 12:12; 2 Thess 2:9; 3:17; Heb 2:4; Rev. 12:1, 3; 13:13, 14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20) 77x

wonders: τέρας, Str 5059; GK 5469; TDNT 8.113; TDNTA 170; LN 33.480 (Matt. 24:24; Mark 13:22; Acts 2:19, 22, 43; 4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 7:36; 14:3; 15:12; Rom 15:19; 2 Cor 12:12; 2 Thess. 2:9; Heb. 2:4)16x

mighty deeds: δύναμις, Str 1411; GK 1539; TDNT 2.284; TDNTA 186; LN 76.7 (Matt 7:22; 11:20, 21, 23; 13:54, 58; 14:2; Mark 6:2, 5, 14; 9:39; Luke 1:51; 10:13; 19:37; Acts 2:22; 8:13; 19:11; 1 Cor 12:10, 28, 29; 2 Cor 12:12; Gal. 3:5; Heb 2:4) 23x 

Note: the other forms and usages of this word maybe found in LN 12.43–12.50; LN 33.134; 37.61; 74.1; 76.1. In total there are 120 occurrences of this word in the N.T. way to many to exhaustively list here.

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Additional Resources Consulted
McNeal, T. R. “Miracles, Signs, Wonders.” Edited by Chad Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England, Steve Bond, E. Ray Clendenen, and Trent C. Butler. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003.

Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.

Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ⁸ Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Commentary

Vs. 7 "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure."

The Apostle Paul having declared all that he was privy too in having visions and revelations of the Lord (vs. 1-6). Now reveals that because of these things, to keep him from becoming exalted above measure, (i.e. become conceited, lit. "puffed up with pride") a thorn in flesh was given to him, what Paul describes as "....a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure." Now we do not know just what the thorn in the flesh was, which is good, lest we look for a something similar in our own lives, rather than seeing whatever thorns in the flesh God allows to come, or permits to exist in our own persons or lives (whether these things come from Satan, or by some others means), is only so that we also remain humble and dependent upon Him. 

Vs. 8 "Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me."

Understandably Paul wanted this thorn in the flesh removed, quite a natural reaction to what one initially feels is a ongoing or unbearable burden. Indeed Paul says that three times he pleaded with the Lord that it might depart from him. And so whatever it was, it must have been fairly serious, and fairly distressing to him, to plead with the Lord three times about it. 

Vs. 9  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

In response to the Apostle Paul's plea, the Lord said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Instead of removing it from him, the Lord chose to give Paul His grace to carry on through it. Therefore not all of the things that we want removed from our persons and lives will be. And so we should not then think it unusual, or become discouraged, if for whatever reasons the Lord also permits such things to come to us, or remain in our own persons and lives (consider Acts 14:22; 2 Tim 3:12; James 1:2-3; 1 Peter 4:12-19), because as God's grace was sufficient for the Apostle Paul, so it will be for us to. For it is God's grace that not only saves us (Eph. 2:8-9), but it is that same grace that also brings the power of Christ to us which sustains and enables and empowers us to likewise carry on and do what we could not have done in our own strengths, so that the Lord alone may be exalted and glorified and praised in and through all our weaknesses. For it is the grace of God that keeps us in perfect peace when our heart is set on Him, and not on the thorn in our flesh (consider Isaiah 26:3). And so whether these thorns in the flesh are temporary or permanent things, we must have a right perspective so that we too can remain faithful and fruitful in the Lord during them. Because God's grace which brings contentment and peace comes to us, and rests on us, only when we trust in Him while going through them (consider Phil 4:6-7). Therefore in light of such things, the Apostle Paul now says' that rather than seeing his own weaknesses (infirmities) as some sort of liabilities, he will now rather boast in them all, that the power of Christ may rest on me. The same then applies to us. For Satan loves to exalt our weakness against us. And so just as he loves to use these things against us to try to discourage us, or hinder us from stepping out in faith, so the Lord loves to use these very same weaknesses to triumph over him and them. 

Vs. 10 "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Now the sufficiency of God's grace for us is an encompassing grace, which knows neither bounds or limits. Therefore Paul could now readily embrace all kinds of things that would have previously only been seen by him as obstacles or burdens too his wholeheartedly serving the Lord. For as the Apostle Paul say's, "For when I am weak, then I am strong." Strong, not being in of himself and his own strengths and abilities, which is the way of the world, but strong in the Lord and the power of His might (see Eph. 6:10-20). Now the kinds of things Paul lists here really covers a broad spectrum of possibilities, which again can come into any Christians life. And so like Paul we too will learn that God's grace is also sufficient for us during them. And so from our infirmities (that is our incapacity's, limitations, weaknesses LN 74.23, consider 2 Cor. 13:4; Hebrews 4:13, 5:2; 11:34), to our enduring reproaches (that is our being mistreated, insulted), to our struggling through various kinds of needs (i.e. that which is a legitimate need which causes us distress because of a lack of it), to our going through the various kinds of persecutions (persecution, harassment, oppression, DBL Greek), to our likewise passing through all this life's distresses (consider Acts 14:21). God's grace is always sufficient, not just to enable us to endure them, but also to empower us to become fruitful and useful for the Kingdom of heaven's purposes down here while passing through them, because whatever negative things that happen to us down here, are all just temporary afflictions of the flesh (see 2 Cor 4:17-18), before we take our permanent place in our eternal heavenly home with Christ where such things will never be experienced again (Rev 21:4). 

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. (1982). (Mal 4:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Additional Resources Consulted
Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 764). New York: United Bible Societies.

Word Studies

Vs. 7 exalted (2x): ὑπεραίρομαιa, Str. 5229; GK. 5643; LN. 88.211
Vs. 10 infirmities: ἀσθένειαa, Str. 769; GK 819; TDNT 1.490; LN 74.23 (N.T. uses, Matt. 8:17; Luke 5:15, 8:2, 13:11-12; John 5:5, 11:4; Acts 28:9; Rom 6:19; 8:26; 1 Cor 2:3, 15:43; 2 Cor 11:30, 12:5, 9-10, 13:4; Gal 4:13; 1 Tim. 5:23; Hebrews 4:13, 5:2; 7:28; 11:34; 24x)
reproaches: ὕβρις, Str. 5196; GK. 5615; LN. 88:131; 33.391; 20.19; TDNT 8.295; TDNTA 1200 (Matt. 22:6; Luke 11:45; 18:45; Acts 14:5, 27:10, 21; Rom 1:30; 2 Cor 12:10; 1 Thess. 2:2; 1 Tim. 1:13; Heb 10:29; 11x)
needs: ἀνάγκηa, Str. 318; GK 340; LN. 22:1; TDNT 1.344; TDNTA 55; (Luke 21:23; 1 Cor 7:23; 2 Cor 6:4, 12:10; 1 Thess. 3:7).
persecutions, διωγμός, Str. 1375; GK 1501; LN. 39.45 (Matt. 13:21; Mark 4:17; 10:30; Acts 8:1; 13:50; Rom. 8:35; 2 Cor. 12:10; 2 Thess. 1:4; 2 Tim. 3:11 (2×) 10x
distresses, στενοχωρία: Str. 4730; GK 5103; TDNT 7.604; TDNTA 1077; LN 22:10 (Rom 2:9, 8:35; 2 Cor 6:4; 12:10) (4x)