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2CorinthiansLesson14
2Corinthians12
Objective:Toexploretheancienttextof2CorinthiansinordertounderstandmorefullyandcompletelythecallofGodforustodayasweseektoliveoutourlivesinservicetotheKingdomofGod,toHisglory,HisHonorandHiswill.Theseancienttextscanchallengeus,andinspireus,tolivelifemorefullyasparticipantsinGodsstoryofredemptionandlove.Atthecore,thehopeanddesirefordoingthisstudyisthatwewillbecontinuallytransformedmorefullyandcompletelyintousefulinstrumentsinthehandsofGodforbringingHismessageofloveandcompassion,andlifetoeverycreature.
Materials:TheBible,Commentaries,journalarticles,dictionaries,theinternetandotherresourcesasmaybeappropriate.ItisalsoourhopethateachpersonwillbringtothediscussionandclasstimesthethingsthatGodhasplacedupontheirheartthroughtheiruniquejourneyaspeopleseekingthefaceofGodandthelifeHeseekstobring.
Procedures1. ToexplorebiblicallyandlogicallywhatmattersmosttoGodin
ordertounderstandhowwearetolive.Thiswillentailexploringthebackgroundofthesetextsinordertounderstandmorefullytheirintendedmeaningfortheiroriginaltargetaudience.
2. Wewillalsoseektoexplorehowtheseancienttexts,addressedtoancientspeoples,should,andmustchallengeustodayinourwalkoffaithandobediencetothewillofGod.
PAGE OF SERIES 2 DURATION - 8 WEEKS1 23
3. WeintendineachinstancetooffersomepracticalsuggestionsastohowthecallofGod,throughHisApostle,Paul,callsustoliveourlivesinsuchawayastoreJlectourconJidenthopeandexpectationinthepowerofGod.WeseekthefaceofGod.
PAGE OF SERIES 2 DURATION - 8 WEEKS2 23
Inchapter12,Paulcontinueshisdefenseagainsthisrivals,
thefalseapostles.Inthispartofhisdefense,hecontinueswith
theboastinghebeganearlier;eventhoughhedescribesitasnot
proJitable().Inspiteofhimsayingthatitisnot
proJitablehestillsaysthatitisnecessary.Whyisitnecessary?
Likely,itisnecessarybecausethethingsheisgoingtomention
nowarethingshisopponentsaresomehowtryingtouseinorder
todriveawedgebetweenPaulandthebelieversofCorinthand
Achaia.ThekindsofthingsPaulchoosestoboastaboutarelikely
chosentocounteractthingsbeingsaidbyPaulsdetractors.Paul
isherestillverymuchhereinthemodeofacaringandconcerned
father,anxiousforthewelfareofhischildreninthefaith.Itis
likelythatthefalseapostleshavebeenbraggingabouttheir
visionsandrevelationsandsoithasbecomenecessaryforPaulto
speakofhis.
Inhisaccount,Paulindicatesthattherearemultiplevisions
andrevelations,butheonlyrecountsonehere.Inverse2,Paul
beginshisaccountbysayingthatheknewapersonwhofourteen
yearsagowascaughtuptothethirdheaven.Somescholarshave
thoughtthatPaulherewastalkingaboutsomeoneotherthan
PAGE OF SERIES 2 DURATION - 8 WEEKS3 23
himself,whilemostscholarshaveconcludedthatPaulisindeed
talkingabouthimself.Hesayshewascaughtupintothethird
heaven.TheideaoflayersinheavenappearsinotherNew
TestamenttextssuchasEphesians4:10 and2Peter3:5,7. 1 2
Jewishscholarshaddifferentthoughtsregardingthelayeringof
heaven,includingsomewhothoughtthatthethirdheavenwas
thehighestlevelofheaven.ItappearsthatPaulJitsintothis
categoryofthinkers. Certainhighlyrespectedrabbis,inthetime3
ofPaul,practicedwhatiscalledmerkabahcontemplation.Thisis
whensomeonewouldfocustheirattentionintentlyuponthe
visionsrecordedinEzekielchapter1and10,whichrecords
visionsoftheThroneChariotofGod. 4
RabbanJoananb.Zakkai,oneofthegreatestJewish
scholarsatthetimeofthefallofJerusalem(A.D.30-90),taught
merkabahcontemplationtosomeofhismostfavoredstudents.
He,theveryonewhodescended,isalsotheonewhoascendedabovealltheheavens,in1ordertoAillallthings.NET.
5Fortheydeliberatelysuppressthisfact,thatbythewordofGodheavensexistedlongago2andanearthwasformedoutofwaterandbymeansofwater..7ButbythesamewordthepresentheavensandearthhavebeenreservedforAire,bybeingkeptforthedayofjudgmentanddestructionoftheungodly.NET.
MitziL.Minor,2Corinthians,intheSmyth&HelwysBibleCommentaryseries(MaconGA:Smyth&3HelwysPublishingIncorporated,2009),pp.223-224.
J.W.Bowker,MerkabahVisionsandtheVisionsofPaul,JournalofSemiticStudies(1971)16:2,4pp.157-173.
PAGE OF SERIES 2 DURATION - 8 WEEKS4 23
Therewasarestrictionplacedonthistypeofcontemplation
amongtherabbisduetotheextremedangerassociatedwiththis
endeavor.ThedangerarisesbecauseofthegeneralBiblical
warningthatnomanshallseeGodandlive(Exodus33:20),andin
particularbecauseanyonewhoapproachesholiness,ortheholy,
inanuncleanstateisindiredangerofdeath.Itishighlyprobable
thatthemajorityofrabbispracticedthistypeofcontemplationat
thetimeofPaul.Thiswasconsideredtobeahigherformof
educationfortherabbisandreservedforthosewhowere
consideredtobetheeliteamongthisgroup. Thiswasconsidered5
acredentialofspirituality,withthisevenbecomingatypeof
gradingsystemamongcertainrabbis.Ifyouweretrulyanupper
levelrabbithenyoupracticedsuccessfullymerkabah
contemplation.Thisislikelywhatthefalseapostlesweretelling
thepeopleofCorinthabout,andtoutingthisasacredentialof
theirsuperiorityoverPaul.
Itisimportanttoremember,thatinthecaseofmerkabah
contemplationthatthemainpurposeofthecontemplationwas
notnecessarilytoproducevisionsatall,buttoattendexegetically
J.W.Bowker,MerkabahVisionsandtheVisionsofPaul,JournalofSemiticStudies(1971)16:2,5pp.157-173.
PAGE OF SERIES 2 DURATION - 8 WEEKS5 23
toparticularpartsofscripture.However,infact,such
contemplationdidoftenleadtoesotericspeculationnotonlywith
regardtothepassagesfromEzekiel,butalsoinregardtothe
narrativeofcreation.WithinJudaism,overtime,therewould
cometobeawholeclassofliteratureassociatedwiththistypeof
contemplation.BecausebothEzekiel,andthecreationaccount,
werescripturetheyhadtobeinterpretedsimplybecauseofthe
factthattheywereactuallyapartofscripture;itwasnecessary
foranattempttobemadetounderstandthem.However,it
appearsthatthiscontemplationwasattimessointensethatitled
tothecontemplativepractitionerseeingagainthevision,
particularlythatofthethronechariotofGod.Thiscertainlydid
nothappenoneveryoccasionthatapersoncontemplatedon
thesepassages,butitcouldhappenifapersonwereparticularly
holy,welltrained,andskillful.Itwasalsothoughttobenecessary,
thatinordertohavesuchabilitiesonehadtobeadirect
descendentofAbraham,becausehe,thefatherofthefaithful
wasalsoonewhowastakenupintoparadise,accordingto
tradition.Suchvisionsbecameasignofextremefaithfulnesson
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thepartoftheonewhosawsuchavisionamongthosein
PharisaicJudaism. 6
Fromallthatweknow,thereiscertainlyeveryreasonto
suspectthatPaul,duetohistraining,andhisorthodoxy,hewould
likelyhavebeentrainedinsuchamannersoastoundertake
merkabahcontemplation.Asamatteroffact,thewayPaul
phrasessomeclaimsabouthimself,suchasthathewasdeeply
andthoroughlytrained,andthathewasindeedatruedescendent
ofAbrahamitmaybethatinparttheseweresomeofthethingshe
wasalludingtobysuchtalk.ItisknownthatPaulhadatleast8
visionsthatarespokenofintheNewTestament. Itclearly7
appearsthatvisionaryexperienceswerebynomeansunusualfor
Paul.Bowkersuggeststhatthevisionsof2Corinthians12,and
theroadtoDamascusexperience(Acts9:3-9)arosefromabaseof
merkabahcontemplation.HecomparesthevisionsofPaulwitha
J.W.Bowker,MerkabahVisionsandtheVisionsofPaul,JournalofSemiticStudies(1971)16:2,6pp.157-173.
ThevisionontheroadtoDamascus,thevisionofAnanias(Acts9:12);thevisionofthe7Macedonianman(Acts16:9ff.);inCorinth(Acts18:9-10);JesusintheTemple(Acts22:17-21);Jesusduringthenight(Acts23:11);theangelintheshipwreck(Acts27:23-26);theexperiencedescribedherein2Corinthians12:1-7).TherewasalsoofnotethepromiseofActs26:16andthediscussionoftheresurrectionappearancesGalatians2:11ff.
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numberofaccountsofthistypeofvisionrecordedbytherabbis
andJindssigniJicantsimilarities. 8
OneofthecomparisonsiswithadreamofJoananwhoalso
speaksofthethirdheaven.Thisdetailhasbeennotedbyother
scholarsbeforeBowker.Anotherthingisthatoftenphysical
journeyswereconsideredtobeparticularlysuitableopportunities
forsuchcontemplation;suchasPaulsjourneytoDamascusin
ordertopersecutethechurchthere.Atrance-conditionwasoften
associatedwithsuchvisionsasissuggestedin2Corinthians12:3;
inActs9:8ff.,22:11,26:12-18(notePaulappearstobetheonly
onewhohearsthevoiceontheroadtoDamascus)andthe
conditionofblindnessmayalsobeaconditionassociatedwitha
trance(Acts9:9).Paulmayhavebeenlikeotherrabbis,who,
whentheywouldtravelontheroadwouldreJlectontheopening
visionofEzekiel.Suchathingmay,inpart,betheexplanationfor
whyweseesuchasuddenanddramaticreversalinPaulgoing
frompersecutingthechurchtobecomingitsgreatadvocateand
proclaimer. IfPaulwascontemplatingonthisparticularpassage9
J.W.Bowker,MerkabahVisionsandtheVisionsofPaul,JournalofSemiticStudies(1971)16:2,8pp.157-173.
J.W.Bowker,MerkabahVisionsandtheVisionsofPaul,JournalofSemiticStudies(1971)16:2,9pp.157-173.
PAGE OF SERIES 2 DURATION - 8 WEEKS8 23
fromEzekielandexpectingperhapsanangeltoanswerhim,you
canimaginehissurprisetohearthevoiceofJesus,theveryone
whoheispersecutingansweringfromthethroneofGod.This
certainlywouldhaveinducedadramaticaffectinonesodevoted
toGod.
TheassociationofEzekiel1and10withthevoiceofJesus
wouldhaveprovidedatotallycoherentcontextforPaulsdramatic
conversion.Bowkerconcludesthatthereareenoughpointsof
contactbetweenwhatweknowofPaulsvisionsandthoseof
othermerkabahmysticstoconcludethatPaulindeedpracticed
merkabahcontemplationasanordinaryconsequenceofhishighly
extendedPharisaictraining. Thethingssuchasspeakingof10
paradise(),beinginthebody,oroutofthebody,
hearingthingsthatnomortalispermittedtorepeatareexactly
thetypeofthingsthatweJindinotheraccountsofrabbis
undertakingmerkabahcontemplation.Theconventionsthatwere
inplaceatthetimePaulwaswritingsuggestedthattellingastory
liketheonetoldin2Corinthians12,inthethirdperson,was
advantageouswhensuchastorymightbeheardasaformofself-
J.W.Bowker,MerkabahVisionsandtheVisionsofPaul,JournalofSemiticStudies(1971)16:2,10pp.157-173.
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promotion.Thisexperienceapparentlyhadhappenedfourteen
yearsearlier,butthisistheJirsttimethatherecountssuchan
experiencetohisaudienceatCorinth.Thosefourteenyearsof
silencewouldseemtounderscorePaulsreluctancetoboastin
suchthings. 11
Paradise,inthetimeofPaul,mightbeareferencetothe
GardenofEden,aplaceofpeaceabovetheearth,ortheplace
whereGoddweltandcaresforthoseHehaschosen.Paradisealso
cametohaveapocalypticovertoneswiththerebeingthe
expectationthattheJirstparadisewouldreappearattheendof
thisperiod.Suchanotionofanexisting,buthidden,paradisemay
liebehindwhatPaulsaysinverse4.Additionally,thethirdheaven
andparadisearelinkedinsomeancientJewishliteraturesuchas
theApocalypseofMoses and2Enoch. Ifallofthisisthecase,12 13
thenPaulisclaimingtohavebeentransportedintothehighest,
andcurrentlyhidden,realmofGod.InsomeJirst-centurycircles
MitziL.Minor,2Corinthians,p.223.11
38:1-2,4-5.12
8:1,7-8.13
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thiswouldhavebeenconsideredthegreatestofsuchexperiences
possible. 14
SuchanexperiencecouldcertainlyhaveelevatedPauls
authorityamongthosewhowereimpressedbysuchthings.It
seemshighlylikelythattheCorinthianswereamongthosewho
wereimpressedbysuchexperiences.Paulappearstobereluctant
forthemtobeimpressedbythingssuchastheseandactually
appearstodownplaythesigniJicanceofsuchexperiences.Paul
seemstofocusontheunknownelementswithinthesevisionsand
thustobeattemptingtofocustheirattentionuponthe
mysteriousnessofGod,theothernessofGodratherthanelevating
thepersonexperiencingthesevisions.Wheneverwe,ashuman
beings,areremindedthatGodisGodandwearenot,thatGodis
thecreator,andthatapersonisthecreature(inotherwords
createdbythecreator)thenthereisnochoiceexceptforhumility
toensue.Inthemidstofboasting,andwhatcouldbeaformof
triumphalismswirlingaboutweJindPaulseekingtoevokeGods
mysteryanditssubsequentcallforhumilityinsteadoffocusing
humanonthehumanelementofsuchexperiences. 15
MitziL.Minor,2Corinthians,pp.223-224.14
MitziL.Minor,2Corinthians,pp.224-225.15
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Paulsnextphrase(verse5)canseemconfusingand
disorientingtous.Wemusthoweverrememberthecontextand
whatPaulistryingtoaccomplishhere.IfPaulweresimplytrying
tooutdohisopponentsbyhavingagreaterecstaticexperience
thantheydid,wewouldnothaveverse5,orPaultalkingabout
engaginginfoolishness.ItisclearthatPaulbelievesthatfounding
hisauthority,andthatoftheGospelmessageonsuchgroundsis
notonlyfoolishness,butalsoundesirable.Hadhechosentofound
hisauthorityuponsuchvisionshewouldhaverecountedsuch
experiencesverydifferentlythanhedidhere.Theywouldindeed
havebeenrecitedasfoundationaltohisauthority,whichwas
exactlywhatPaulsopponentswereclaimingbyrecountingsuch
experiencestotheCorinthiansasproofthattheyshouldbe
followedoverandabovePaul.
Paul,however,makesitclearatverse5thathewillnot
boast,exceptinhisweakness().Hecontinuesin
verse6sayingthatifhewishedtoboast,hewouldnotdosoasa
fool()thusindicatinghisassessmentofhisopponents,
theyarefools.Heindicatesthathedoesnotboastinsuch
revelationsinorderthatpeoplewillnotthinkmoreofhimthan
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theyshould.Hedoesnotwantthefocustobeuponhim,hewants
thatfocustobeuponGodanduponthegoodnewsthathehas
cometoproclaimonbehalfofGod.Hedesirestobeseenasthe
unworthy,weak,andhumbleinstrumentofGod,nothingmore,
andnothingless.Thefocusistotallydifferent.Heevenindicates
thatthereisatemptationonhisparttoboastinthegreatand
magniJicentthingsthatGodhasrevealedtohim.
Atverse7,Paulindicatesthathehasbeengivenathornin
theJleshinordertokeepsuchatemptationfrombecominga
reality.HeindicatesthathehasamessengerofSatan(
)senttotormenthimandtokeephimfrombecoming
arrogant().Tosaythereisvirtuallyendless
speculationwithregardtowhatPaulsthornintheJleshis,isnot
inanysenseanunderstatement.Weashumanbeingshave
endlesscuriosityandsometimesthatcuriositysoenthrallsusas
tocauseustomissthefocushere.WhateverPaulsthorninthe
Jleshwas,apparentlytheCorinthianswerealreadyverymuch
awareofit.TherewasnoneedforPaultonameitforthem.No
matterhowmuchwetodayspeculateregardingPaulsthornitis
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nothingbutspeculation,anditcertainlyisnotcrucialforusto
identifythethorninordertounderstandPaulspointhere.
Paulwishestorecountthathehasbeengiventhisthornin
ordertoremindhimtobehumbleandtofocushisattention
whereGodwishesforthatattentiontobefocused.Paulsays,at
verse8,heprayedthreetimesforthisthorntoberemoved,butin
verse9,theanswerhereceivedis,Mygraceisenough.ForPaul
thisanswerwasmorethansufJicientandheindicatesthatthe
powerofGodisinfactmadeperfectinweakness.Becauseofthis,
Paulwouldboastallthemoreinhisweakness,sinceinthisway
thefocuswastakenoffofhimandplacedonGod(verse9).Paul
understandsthatany,andall,strengthjustlikeany,andall,of
everythingelseultimatelycomesfromthesamesource,God.Inall
ofthisargumentPaulcontinuestopressforthemtohavethisvery
differentviewoftheworldthatfocusesonGod,andthegraceof
God,ratherthanuponhumanstrength,humaninstitutions,and
humanvaluesastowhatisimportant.Hewishestoreorienttheir
compasstopointtoGod,andGodalone,asthesourceofallthatis
worthyofhonor,praise,andboasting.Therefore,Paulwillboast
inhisweaknessinorderthatfocusmaybeplacedwhereittruly
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belongs,inGod,thecreator,thesavior,andthehopeforsomething
betterthanwhatcanbeobtainedinourpresentrealitythrough
ourfeebleeffortsandpower.
Verse11,beginswithPaulsoundinganoteofrepentancefor
hisfoolishnessforboastinginthewaythathisopponentshave
boasted.Heindicatesthathewasactuallydriventothisbecause
oftheir(theCorinthians)failuretodowhatshouldhavebeen
theirduty;theyshouldhavestoodupforhimandnotbeensilent.
Heindicates,afterall,heisnotinferior()tothese
super-apostles().Heendsverse11with
whatsomeconsidertobeabitofsarcastichyperbole,thatlikely
repeatsoneoftheaccusationsmadeagainstPaulbyhis
opponents.Itmayalsobethecasethatheissayingthatheis
nothingandthatChristiseverything.Criticismalwayshurts,but
itusuallyhurtsevenmorewhenitisnottrue.ThoughPaulworks
throughtheseissuestheystillhurt.
Atverse12,Paulremindshisaudiencethatthesignsofthe
apostle()wereindeedpresentwhenhe
proclaimedtothemtheGospelmessage.Oneofthosesignswas
endurance()whichwasdescribedintermsofall
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endurance.ThewordthatPauluseshereforenduranceisused
atkeymomentsinNewTestamentwritingstoencouragethose
thatbelievetoholdontotheirfaithinthemidstsofopposition
andtrials.InLuke8:11-15Jesusexplainsthemeaningofthe
parableofthesower.Heretheseedthatbearsgoodfruitisthat
whichholdsfastandretainsagoodheartwith
endurance().IntheapocalypticdiscourseofLuke,
Jesuswarnsin21:12-19thathisfollowerswillbearrested,
persecuted,betrayed,hated,andevenkilled.Herehetellshis
disciplesthatbyendurancetheywillgaintheysouls.James
(5:7-11)writesregardingtheneedforpatienceandsays,Indeed
wecallblessedthosewhoshowedendurance.Thewriterof
RevelationdescribesRomeandhisoppressivepowersasabeast
fromtheseainchapter13.Becauseofthegreatpowerofthe
beastmanywillcometoworshiphim,butthosewhodowillsuffer
thefateofthebeast.Herethenisacallfortheenduranceofthe
saints(13:10). 16
In1Corinthians1:22PauliscriticalofJewswhodemand
signsinordertoprovethemessageofthecrossandyetherehe
MitziL.Minor,2Corinthians,pp.230-231.16
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usesitasevidenceofanapostle.Perhapsitisthecasethatitis
thedemandingofasignthatistheproblem.Perhapsitisthecase
thatthereisadifferencewhenthepurposeofthemiraclesisto
bringhealingandliberationforothersratherthantoshowoff.It
isalmostcertainthatPaulexpectstheaudiencetoknowthat
PaulssignspointtoGodratherthanbeingseenasanelevationof
theman.HoweverPaulintendsthemtoperceivethesignsthat
weredonebeforethem,heexpressesthattheywereactuallydone
andthatthey(theCorinthians)witnessedthem. Atverse13,he17
comesbackonceagaintoanissuethatobviouslywasamajor
problemfortheCorinthiansandthatwastheissueofnottaking
supportfromthem.He,perhapssarcastically,pleadswiththemto
forgivehimfornottakingsupportfromthem.
Atverse14Paulindicatesthatheisabouttocometothema
thirdtimeandthathedoesnotintendtoburdenthemwithhis
supportthistimeeither.Hecasteshisreasonfornottaking
supportintermsoftheparentchildrelationshipindicatingthatit
istheparentswhoshouldlayupfortheirchildrenandnotthe
childrenwhoshouldlayupfortheirparents.Hereheindicates,
MitziL.Minor,2Corinthians,pp.231-232.17
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likeagoodparent,thatheismorethanhappytospendforhis
children,andindeedtobespent.Paulsetshisrefusaltoaccept
supportintermsoflovingthemmore,ratherthan,asIamsureit
wasbeingcastbythefalseapostlesthathesomehowlovedthem
lessandhisrefusalofsupportdemonstratedthis.Paulindicates
thatthisisnotonlyfalse,buttheoppositeofthetruth.Evidently
Paulsdetractorshadbeenindicatingthathewasdeceitful.He
thenremindsthemnotonlyofhisbehavior,butalsoofthe
behaviorofTituswhomhehadsent.Innoway,hasPaul,orhave
hiscompanionsactedinanywayotherthanhonorably.
Atverse19,Paulquestionswhattheythinkhehasbeen
doing,hashebeendefendinghimselfbeforethem?Itisvirtually
certainthattheCorinthianswillhaveansweredyeshere.Paul
thenclariJiesthatindeedhehasbeendefendinghimself,butnot
totheCorinthians,buttoGod.Hehasevenusedhisdefenseinan
efforttobuildthemupnottogainpointswiththem.Paulseeksto
placethefocusawayfromhimselfanduponhismissionbefore
God.ThatiscentralforPaul.Heindicatesatverse20,thathe
fearsthatwhenhecomestheymaybedisappointedineachother
andPaullaysoutwhatwoulddisappointhim.Hefearsthatthere
PAGE OF SERIES 2 DURATION - 8 WEEKS18 23
mayindeedbequarreling,jealousy,angerandselJishness.For
PaulthesewouldbesignsthatthegraceofGodhasnoteffectively
transformedthem.IndicationsofthetransformingpowerofGod
workinginthemwouldbethelackofthesethingsaswellasthe
turningfromtheirlivesofsintorepentance(verse21)and
changedactionsontheirpart.
WhatwouldhumblePaul,wouldbethatifthesethingshave
nothappened,andthetransformationoftheheartsofhischildren
hasnotactuallyoccurreduponhisarrival.Inthisinstance,Paulis
nothumbledbythem,butbeforethem,byGod.OnceagainPaul
triestoreorienttheirfocustobeuponGod.Hewantstheirhearts
andtheiractionstobedirectedtowardhowtheyshouldrespond
toGodratherthanfocusingonhumanrelationships,human
wisdom,humanaccomplishments,andhumanreasoning.Paul
seekstoturntheirfocustoGodandtorecognizeHisroleinall
thattheyhaveexperiencedandinthecallfortheircontinued
transformationintotruedisciplesofJesusChrist.Theyarecalled
topursueGodJirst,andforemost,andtocontinuetobearthe
imageofGodashasbeendemonstratedtothembyJesusChrist.
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Synopsis AsPaulbeginsthischapterhestatesthatitisnecessaryto
boast,thoughhesaysnothingistobegainedbythisboasting.He
holdsboatingandthefoolishnessofboastinginatension.THISIS
perhapsduetotheimmaturityofhisaudiencethathavelikely
beenimpressedbytheboastingofthefalseapostles.Inorderto
drawthembacktotheirsenses,andtocontinuehiseffortsto
reorienttheircompassPaulwillengageinthetypeofboasting
thatthesefalseapostleshadbeenengagingintotheCorinthians.
Inthisboasting,herecountsoneofhisgreatvisions.Thistypeof
visionwillhavebeenthestockandtradeofmanyrabbiswhohad
undergoneadvancedtraininginthetimeofPaul.
Paulwillgoontosaythathehadreceivedamessenger
fromSataninordertoinsurethatheretainedhishumility.Even
thoughheprayedthreetimesfortheremovalofthisthorninthe
JleshtheresponseofGodwasthat,mygraceisenough.Paul
seekstocontinuehismessage,thatitisthroughhumanweakness,
thatthepowerofGodismostpowerfully,andperfectlydisplayed.
Inthemidstofthis,Paulhaslearnedtobecontentwithwhatmost
PAGE OF SERIES 2 DURATION - 8 WEEKS20 23
wouldconsiderextremenegatives;thingslikeweaknesses,
insults,hardships,persecutions,andcalamities.
Paulindicatesthathehasbeenafoolinhisboasting,but
thathewasactuallyforcedintoitbytheir(theCorinthians)lackof
supportforhim.Sincetheywouldnotstandupforhimhehad
beenforced,fortheirbeneJit,todoit.Heremindsthemofthe
signsthattheyhadseenasapartofhisministryamongthem.
OnceagaintheissueofsupportarisesandPaulonceagainsays
thathewillnottakesupportfromthem,thoughitisnotbecause
hedoesnotlovethem.Infact,itisjusttheoppositehelovesthem
somuch,likeafather,thathewillnottakesupportfromhis
children.
Finally,Paulwillchallengehisaudiencetostopsinningand
toliveastheyshouldsothathewillnotbehumbledbeforethem
bytheirfailuretorespondtotheGospelmessageappropriately.
Inallofthissection,Paulseekstoreorienthisaudiencetoward
Godandtoseetheworldinadifferentwaythantheyhad
previously.Hechallengesthemtobetransformedbythegraceof
GodintotheimageofChrist,astrue,humbledisciplesinorderto
fulJilltheirdestinyasimage-bearersofGod.
PAGE OF SERIES 2 DURATION - 8 WEEKS21 23
Questions1. Whataresomethingsthatyouseepeopleboastingabout?
2. Whydopeopleboast?
3. Whatisthefocusofmostboasting?
4. WhydoyouthinkPaulboastsinhisweakness?
5. Whataresomethingsthatshouldkeeppeoplehumble?
6. WhydoyouthinkhumilityisimportantinourrelationshipwithGod?
7. WhydoyouthinkthegraceofGodisenoughforPaul?
8. HowwouldyoudeJinegrace?
9. Whataresomeexamples,inyourlife,whereyouhaveseengraceexhibitedinpowerfulways?
10.WhydoyouthinkPauliscontentwithweaknesses,insults,hardships,persecutions,andcalamitiesforthesakeofChrist?
11.HowisPaulstrongwhenheisweak(verse10)?
12.Whatdoesitmeantobeafool?
13.Whatisanapostle?
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14.WhydoyouthinkparentssacriJicefortheirchildren?
15.Whataresomewaysthatpeopletakeadvantageofothers?
16.Whataresomethingsthatyoufearforyourchildren?Why?
17.WhydoyouthinkPaulassociatesthecontinuationofsinfulbehaviorwithhimbeinghumbled(verse21)?
18.HowwouldyoudeJinesin?
19.HowdoyouthinkGoddeJinessin?
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