2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:1

In ordinary cases, it is indeed neither proper nor profitable to boast of my privileges and enjoyments; but, since your judaizing teachers have by their reproaches forced me to it, I shall further add, that I have as much ground to boast of immediate intercourse with God as any of them can pretend to. 2, 3. I know a believer in and united to Christ, who, about fourteen years ago, was, in a vision, rapt up to the highest heaven in his apprehensions; but whether his soul was separated from his body, or whether his whole man, soul and body, was carried up, I cannot determine, but must leave the matter to God

2 Corinthians 12:4

But certain I am that this man had such clear manifestations of the glory of God, such clear, intelligible, and transporting revelations of heavenly things, as no words on earth can justly express

2 Corinthians 12:5

Of this man, as so highly dignified, carried out of himself, and favoured with the immediate discoveries of God’s glory, I may and will speak honourably: but I will not speak a boasting word concerning myself, except it be of what plainly marks my weakness, and exposes me to the contempt of others, and thus tends to keep me humble, even while, for promoting the ends of my ministry, I seem to vaunt of them

2 Corinthians 12:6

I could mention many other things, in consistence with good sense and strict truth; but I will say no more, either of my sufferings or revelations, lest some of my friends should be tempted to look upon me as more than a man, or greater than I really am

2 Corinthians 12:7

Nay, lest through the unwatchfulness, vanity, and treachery of my own heart, I should pride myself in these extraordinary revelations, as if I were better than other men, the Lord very graciously permitted Satan and his instruments to afflict me in a very painful and debusing manner

2 Corinthians 12:8

Almost overwhelmed with this trouble, I frequently and earnestly besought the Lord by solemn prayer, that if, consistent with his will, he would rebuke and restrain the tempter, and deliver me from his violent assaults

2 Corinthians 12:9

And, though he did not grant me the very thing which I submissively asked, yet he graciously answered my requests, more to his own honour and my real advantage, by assuring me that his favour and love, and the gracious aids and comforts which he would afford me, would be every way sufficient and effectual to support me under, and carry me through, and bring me off with great improvement, victory, and triumph; and that his almighty power should be illustriously manifested in these effects, in proportion to my utter inability to produce them. In the assured faith of this promise, I will rather rejoice and glory in reproaches, persecutions, and troubles, than be discouraged by, ashamed, or afraid of them; that the all-sufficient power and grace of Jesus Christ, to whom I have committed myself, may surround, cover, and defend me, sanctify my tribulations, and enable me to bear them with all becoming submission, patience, humility, and hope, and at last bring me out of them more than a conqueror

2 Corinthians 12:10

In this view, I take pleasure in all the afflictions which come upon me for professing and preaching Christ and his gospel; for when by these means I most see and feel my own weakness, and appear most contemptible in the eyes of others, I find myself most sensibly strengthened in the Lord, by the influences of his Spirit in my inner man, courageously to bear up under and obtain glorious victories over them

2 Corinthians 12:11

In mentioning so many things with an air of self-commendation, I have with reluctance, for the glory of God, the credit of the gospel, and your establishment and edification, done what in other circumstances would have been weak and foolish; but your culpable neglect to do my character justice, according to what he had experienced under my ministrations, and your taking part with those who reproached me, made it necessary: for I appeal to your consciences, if by the grace of God I did not, however insignificant in myself, in conversation, sufferings, ministrations, miracles, and success, far exceed any of your new preachers, and even equal Peter, or any other of Christ’s apostles

2 Corinthians 12:12

The unquestionable marks of a true apostle of Christ have been manifest in my ministrations among you, in my patience and meekness under my labours and sufferings, and in the miraculous operations and marvellous success which attended them

2 Corinthians 12:13

Have not ye yourselves by my ministry, been enriched with all spiritual gifts and privileges as much as any other Christian church, whether planted by me or by any other apostle? Wherein have I been wanting to you, unless that, for your benefit, and the honour of the gospel, I took no maintenance from you? and if ye will have this to be a wrong done to you, or to any other church, I hope ye may easily forgive it

2 Corinthians 12:14

I have now thrice intended and prepared to make you a visit. The first time I had the pleasure of accomplishing my purpose, and planted the gospel among you. On the second occasion I deferred my coming till it might better promote your honour and comfort. And now, when for the third time I am prepared to come, I am determined to give you my labours freely; for I do not aim at procuring your temporal good things for myself, but at edifying and saving your souls. Since I have been instrumental in begetting you to Christ by the gospel, I resolve, like a parent, to exert myself to the utmost for your spiritual benefit, without expecting a reward of your worldly substance

2 Corinthians 12:15

I could be glad to spend my time, strength, and labour, and all my temporal ease, honour, and advantages, or even to wear out my life itself, for the good of your souls, even though I were to be slighted, reproached, and abused by you in proportion to my kindness to you

2 Corinthians 12:16

Your new preachers indeed pretend, that, though I took nothing from you myself, I hereby craftily decoyed you to give more liberally to my partners

2 Corinthians 12:17

But I dare appeal to yourselves, if there is the least evidence that I ever made the least advantage of you for myself by means of any of my brethren, whom I sent to promote your comfort, rectify your disorders, and excite your charity, to the poor saints in Judea

2 Corinthians 12:18

I appeal to you if Titus, or the respectable brother who attended him, took any thing either for their own labours or my subsistence, and if we did not all act upon the same disinterested plan to promote your spiritual welfare

2 Corinthians 12:19

Nay, as a believer in, and apostle of Christ, I can appeal to the all-seeing God that I did not send them to make any apology for me or my faithful brethren, or to excuse the delay of my visiting you; but that all my conduct towards you has been intended to support my apostolic authority, in order that my ministrations might the more effectually promote your edification. 20, 21. For, as I formerly hinted, I am much afraid that when I shall pay you my intended visit, I shall not find you so orderly and obedient to the authority of Christ in me as I wish, and that I shall be obliged to exercise my power in a manner more severe than ye will relish. I fear lest, through hearkening to seducers, there should be among you fierce and uncharitable disputes, envious tempers and talkers, warm and angry passions, carnal contentions, and revilings of others behind their backs, proud haughty boastings and disdainful insults, and a tumultuous carriage towards one another; and lest my gracious God and Master should call me not to glory of you, or rejoice in beholding your faith and order, but to shame and grief, on account of Christ of being so much dishonoured, and my labours so much lost among you; and sharply to censure such as I find continuing impenitent in their scandalous sins

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XII.—Great are the changes which take place in the comforts and troubles of saints. God often lifts them up and casts them down again. The most ravishing manifestations are succeeded by sharp and fearful trials and temptations: but all is necessary to keep down pride and animate fervent prayer. And though God does not always answer the prayers of his people as they wish, he always does it in that manner which is best calculated to promote their spiritual benefit. If he secure to us his own powerful presence and grace, we may well glory in troubles, as giving him opportunities to perform his promise. And it is delightful to see the greatest ministers the most humble, and behaving in the most prudent and self-denying manner, in order to turn souls to Christ. But how shameful is it for people to break the hearts of their faithful and successful ministers by reproaches and impenitent continuance in scandalous enormities! And with deep impressions of the dishonour done to God, and hurt to souls, ought the unruly to be warned, and offenders to be censured