2 Corinthians 12:11

2 Corinthians 12:11 says, I 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.  Paul said that the reason he had become a fool in glorifying himself was because the members of the church at Corinth had forced him to.  He was not doing it for his own benefit, but to answer those who were questioning or even denying his right to be an apostle.  Whenever Satan can get Christians to put down other Christians, he is delighted.  Verse twelve adds, Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.  Paul was basically declaring that his works should prove his apostleship without his having to defend himself.  He had done the work of an apostle with all patience, through signs, wonders, and mighty deeds.  As followers of Christ today, our work for Christ should show us to be His followers.  Verse thirteen continues, For 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.  I believe that Paul was asking if the church at Corinth felt that they were inferior to other churches, which they would have been had they been established by an inferior apostle, one who didn't really have a true relationship with Christ.  We need to realize that if a church, or fellowship of believers, is truly established on salvation through Christ alone, that none is inferior to another, no matter the size of the congregation.  Paul then asked if they felt inferior because he didn't ask them to support him.  Again, not being able to fully support a preacher, or minister, does not make a church inferior to one that can.  God is the One that empowers both.  Paul then said that if his not looking to them for support made them feel that they, or Paul himself, were someone inferior, that he asked their forgiveness.  Material wealth should never determine how a church is viewed, but I am afraid that it often is.  Sometimes people seem to put more pride in the church they attend than they do in their own commitment to Christ.  Verse fourteen states, Behold, 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.  Paul said that he was ready for the third time to come to them, but we have no evidence that he made it.  He also said he would still not ask them for support, because the were still young in their faith.  Our plans may not always be God's plans, but that does not mean we should not make plans, only that we should acknowledge God's right to change them.  Verse fifteen adds, And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.  Paul said he would provide for himself and even give his life gladly for the church at Corinth.  He then said that it seemed the more abundantly he loved them, the less they loved Him.  We cannot guarantee that the things we do for other Christians will always be appreciated, but we should not let that stop us from doing them if we know that is what God wants.

2 Corinthians 12:6

2 Corinthians 12:6 says, For 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.  Though from here through verse ten is a continuation of Paul's writing about his being caught up into heaven, the emphasis is now somewhat different.  Paul said that even if he might desire for glory that he would not be foolish enough to attempt to glorify himself.  We can be certain that when we begin to attempt to use the gospel for our own glory, no matter what we may see or hear, that we are acting foolishly.  Paul said that he would forebear from doing anything that would glorify himself instead of Christ.  Had he emphasized his being caught up into heaven and what he saw and heard there, people would have viewed him differently.  I believe Paul felt that they would have come to hear him because he would have been viewed as a person above normal people.  Paul only wanted to be viewed as what he was, and that was a servant of Christ, no better nor any worse than any other Christian.  Verse seven adds, And 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.  Paul said he was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him from being too exalted.  We are not told what this thorn in the flesh was, but that it came from Satan in an attempt to limit Paul's effectiveness.  Verse eight continues, For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  Paul said he had asked God, or prayed, about this thorn in the flesh three times.  We can be certain that God heard Paul the first time, but Paul either didn't feel that God had answered him or did not want to accept God's answer.  We can also be certain that just as surely as Satan will attack us when we are working for God, and that God will just as surely hear and answer our prayers.  We just have to understand that the answer may sometimes be no.  Verse nine declares, And 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.  Paul said that God's answer, whether he understood it after every prayer or only after the third, was that God's grace was sufficient for him and that God's strength was made perfect in weakness.  Paul said he then would rather glory in his infirmities that the power of Christ might rest on him.  If we are able to do everything by our own power, then we are not living by God's power.  We must accept our own weakness in order to prove the power of God.  Verse ten adds, Therefore 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.  Paul said that he took pleasure in the bad things in his life, because through them he knew the strength of Christ.  Paul did not seek out these things, but he still had a joy in life because he knew that God was working through Him.  We cannot allow bad things that happen to us in life keep us from witnessing for Christ with a joy in our hearts.

2 Corinthians 12:1

2 Corinthians 12:1 says, It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.  Paul said that it was not expedient for him to glory in himself.  He only related his own experiences to prove his calling as an apostle.  I believe that Paul was saying that when a person follows God for personal glory that such a person will never have a vision for Christ nor receive revelations from God.  Verse two adds, I 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.  Paul begins to speak of himself in the third person.  Fourteen years had passed before Paul shared this experience, because he did not want the focus to be on himself.  He said he was caught up in the third heaven, above the one of the birds and the one of the stars and into the one that God dwells in.  Paul was not saying that after our resurrection that there will be three different heavens, but that he was above the ones that we can see.  He said he didn't know if he was physically there or only spiritually, but either way it was a real experience.  Verse three continues, And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)  Paul was once more attempting to keep the emphasis off himself.  He once more stated that God knew for sure what happened.  If something miraculous happens to us today, we should do all that we can to keep the emphasis on God.  Verse four states, How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  Paul did not speak about what he saw there or even what he heard.  It took him fourteen years, years of proclaiming the gospel, to even mention it.  Even then, he related the story in the third person.  Had Paul begun to speak of what he heard and saw there, the emphasis would not have been on Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.  Salvation should never be about the riches of heaven but should be about a relationship with God.  Verse five add, Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.  I believe that Paul meant that he would not glory in himself but would only glory in Christ.  He recognized that of his own ability that he only had infirmities.  When we witness, we do so out of our own weakness and through the power of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:28

2 Corinthians 11:28 says, Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.  Though a part of Paul's speaking about his physical suffering for the gospel, I separated this because the shift should be noted.  Paul said that all his physical sufferings were not the only burden he had.  His real burden was for the churches.  Their care was always in his thoughts.  I don't believe that Paul viewed this as a burden that he unfairly had placed on him, but instead was one that he willingly accepted.  No matter what is going on in our lives, we must always have the care of the church first.  We can suffer all the persecution and abuse possible from the world, but if we are not doing so for the sake of the gospel, it doesn't matter.   Verse twenty-nine adds, Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?  I believe that Paul was speaking about his having the care of the churches in mind more than he was of the physical things he had suffered.  He had empathy for all the believers.  When they were weak, his thoughts and prayers were with them in their weakness.  Paul said when they were offended, he burned with righteousness anger.  We should always feel empathy for other believers.  When Christians anywhere are persecuted, we should have a deep sorrow that it happened or is happening.  Being a follower of Christ is never just something that is for the benefit of the one who is following alone, but calls for witnessing to the lost and edifying other believers.  Verse thirty continues, If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.  I believe that Paul was saying that instead of glorifying his strengths, he would instead be glorifying his weaknesses, so that God, and not Paul himself, would be glorified.  Verse thirty-one states, The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.  Paul was giving the glory to Christ and he said that God knew he was not lying.  We may fool the world boasting about ourselves, but we will never fool God.  Verse thirty-two adds, In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:  Paul again relates some of his suffering for the gospel, but how even a garrison of soldiers could not find him because of God's protection.  Verse thirty-three continues, And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.  Paul said that God arranged his escape through a widow and a basket.  When we think that we are weak and insignificant, remember the widow.  She was unafraid to help Paul, even though she would have been punished if caught.  We should never allow fear and weakness to keep us from serving God.

2 Corinthians 11:21

2 Corinthians 11:21 says, I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.  Paul was addressing the reproach that people were treating him with.  He said he was going to be bold in defending his qualifications, though he knew he was speaking foolishly to do so.  Though Paul had been accused of being weak, he knew that his real power did not come from his own abilities.  Still, for the sake of the gospel he would present his qualifications.  Verse twenty-two adds, Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.  Paul said that even though he was an apostle to the Gentiles, he was a part of the nation of Israel by birth, just as much or more so than those who were attempting to discredit him.  When someone questions us about our faith today, we can stand boldly as a part of God's people if we have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-three continues, Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  Paul asked if they were ministers of Christ.  I believe that he was asking what they might have done to feel superior to him.  Then he answers that he had worked harder and suffered more physically for the gospel than nearly anyone else.  He had been beaten, imprisoned, and threatened with death many times.  Again, Paul called it foolish to speak of these things, if they focused the glory on himself and not Christ.  Whatever we do for the gospel should always keep the focus on Christ.  Verse twenty-four states, Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  Paul said he had received thirty-nine stripes from the Jews five times.  Verse twenty-five adds, Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  Paul continues to speak about some of the things he had suffered for the gospel.  Three times he was beaten with rods, once he was stoned and three times he was shipwrecked, spending on night in the water.  These are not the acts of a weak man, but Paul still said it was foolish to speak about them.  We might ask why God allowed this to happen to Paul, but we must realize that there will always be great opposition to the gospel.  God doesn't call us to prosperity but to faithfulness.  Verse twenty-six continues,  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  Paul said he was continually on the move for the gospel and this often put him in great peril wherever he went, from both the Jews and the Gentiles.  Hopefully we today will never be threatened by those who call themselves God's people, but we can be assured that we will be at odds with the world, or those who don't believe in Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  Paul was not telling these things for his own glory, but to show his faithfulness to the gospel no matter what.

2 Corinthians 11:13

2 Corinthians 11:13 says, For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  Paul begins to give a warning against false prophets.  He said they were deceitful, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.  We cannot transform ourselves into apostles, or even followers of Christ, but must be transformed by Christ Himself.  We know that the Bible tells us that not all who claim to know Christ as Savior and Lord really do.  Some make the claim for personal reasons and not because they have really accepted Christ.  Paul said some who called themselves apostles were the same.  Verse fourteen adds, And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  We need to remember that Satan does not come to us with horns, a tail, a pitchfork and totally in red.  It would be easy to avoid him if he did.  Satan comes in the most appealing form to the person that he is attempting to deceive.  Verse fifteen continues, Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.  Paul warns us that it should come as no surprise that Satan uses false ministers to do his work.  We need to look at who Satan really is, and that is the great deceiver, and be aware that he works by appealing to people's vanity.  Verse sixteen states, I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.  Paul said that no one should think him a fool, but if they received him as such that he would boast a little about himself.  I don't believe this was to bring glory to himself, but to prove his faithfulness to the gospel.  Paul was not fooled by the actions of Satan through Satan's false ministers, and we should not be either.  Verse seventeen adds, That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.  Paul said that when he boasted of himself it was not a commandment of the Lord to do so.  Paul was not boasting to bring credit to himself, but to prove his worthiness to proclaim the gospel.  As a general rule, we as followers of Christ are to be humble, but at times we may need to boldly defend our work for Christ that He might be glorified.  Paul never defended himself for his glory, but always for the sake of the gospel.  Verse eighteen continues, Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.  As just stated, Paul was not speaking of self-glory, but of glorying in the gospel.  Verse nineteen says, For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.  Paul may have meant that for all their wisdom they were easily deceived by those who preached foolishness.  There are many worldly-wise people today who will follow the foolishness of a false gospel while claiming the true gospel of Christ is just too simple.  Verse twenty adds, For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.  Paul said that they suffered for believing the fool, the one who declared salvation by any means other than faith in Christ.  They placed themselves back in bondage.  If we add any requirement to salvation other than faith in Christ alone, we are placing ourselves back under the bondage of sin.

2 Corinthians 11:5

2 Corinthians 11:5 says, For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.  Paul was not bragging on himself but was simply stating a fact.  In all honesty, Paul could have placed himself ahead of nearly all, if not all, of the apostles.  His successful spreading of the gospel proved this.  If someone comes to us today putting the emphasis on themself instead of Christ, then we need to be suspect of what they are saying.  Verse six adds, But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.  Paul said that he might not be the most eloquent speaker, but that he lacked nothing in the knowledge of God.  This is not to say that he knew everything about God, but that he did know the truth of the gospel from his own conversion experience and reliance on the Holy Spirit when he witnessed.  Though Paul was well educated, I don't believe he was referring to this knowledge, but the knowledge that came from his relationship with God through Christ.  We may be well educated today, but unless we know Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, all that education or knowledge is useless.  Verse seven continues, Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?  Paul was asking the church at Corinth if he had been wrong, or made himself look less important, because he preached the gospel freely.  I believe he was asking if they would have thought more of him had he profited from the gospel.  There are those today who judge a preacher by the size of the congregation or by how much he makes, but the real judgment should be how effectively a preacher presents the gospel.  Paul was not saying that preachers should not be supported materially, but only that he chose not to be.  Verse eight states, I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.  We might question the phrase  "robbed other churches," but Paul was simply saying that he asked for money from other churches to help the church at Corinth.  Verse nine Paul adds, And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.  Paul said he had asked for no financial support from the church at Corinth, and he wouldn't when he came again.  Paul supported himself, though he does say that the brethren who came from Macedonia helped.  Though a preacher should never be a preacher for material gain, they likewise should never have to rely totally on themselves for support unless they choose to.  Though Paul chose to support himself, he was not saying that all preachers should.  Verse ten continues, As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.  Paul said no one would stop him from boasting of, or boldly proclaiming the gospel.  When we have the truth of Christ in us, nothing should stop us from proclaiming it boldly.   Verse eleven asks, Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.  Paul asked if they thought he took the actions he did concerning the church at Corinth because he didn't love them.  He then answered that God knew he did.  Everything we do for God, whether witnessing to the lost or teaching in the church should be done out of a Christ like love for them.  As God loves us, we are to love others.  Verse twelve adds, But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.  I believe that Paul was saying that he lived as he did so no one could have any occasion, or reason, to claim that he proclaimed the gospel for any reason other than the love God and his fellow men and women.  We need to live the same way.