In last week’s bulletin, I asked you to give some consideration to 2 Corinthians 12:1-6.  This passage, when isolated, presents quite a challenge.  However, when viewed within its overall context within the book of 2 Corinthians, it becomes more clear.  So, who is Paul talking about?  The short answer:  himself.  Let’s see how we can know this.

     The opening verses of 2 Corinthians 12 (down through verse 10) conclude a specific section of this letter that began back in 2 Corinthians 11.  In verse one of that chapter Paul states, “I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness.  Do bear with me!” (ESV)  For several verses (through vs 15) he then addresses the topic of false apostles who, Paul says, “...would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.  For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ” (vs 12-13, emp. add.).  In a boastful fashion, these false apostles were trying to turn the Corinthians against Paul.  Even though Paul thought it was foolish to do so, he felt forced into boasting about himself - “I repeat, let no one think me foolish.  But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little” (vs 16).  In the verses that follow Paul speaks of his Jewish credentials (vs 21-22) and his labors and sufferings on behalf of Christ and His church (vs 23-30).  This brings us to the passage at hand.

     Notice that 2 Cornthians 12:1 begins, “I must go on boasting.”  Paul isn’t beginning a completely new subject here.  Instead, he is continuing in the boasting that he began in the previous chapter.  At this point, he shifts the focus of his boasting to “visions and revelations of the Lord” (also vs 2).  This is when he talks about “a man” caught up to the third heaven (the dwelling place of God).  It seems that Paul uses the generic reference (“a man”) rather than inserting his own name here out of a spirit of humility.  When he was “caught up,” he did not know if he was caught up in body and spirit or in spirit only.  Paul does not supply any details of what he saw or heard only that “...he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter” (vs 4).  Notice what Paul then states:  “On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.”  First of all, notice the connection between “this man” and “my weaknesses.”  This confirms that “this man” is indeed Paul for when Paul spoke of “this man” he spoke of his own weaknesses - not the weaknesses of a different person. 

     Once again, the character of Paul shines forth.  The occasion of being caught up into the third heaven presented quite an opportunity to boast - “Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth...” (vs 6).  Yet, when speaking of this occasion, Paul did so in a humble fashion by addressing his weaknesses.  You see, to help Paul refrain from boasting, a thorn in the flesh was given to him.  Did you realize that this was the specific purpose of Paul’s thorn in the flesh?  By the way, that leads to another question:  What do you suppose the “thorn in the flesh” was?  Perhaps you might want to give that some thought and as always...Happy Studying!