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2 Corinthians 12: Strength Made Perfect

Caught up to paradise yet given a thorn, Paul learns that Christ's grace is sufficient and his power is perfected in weakness.

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2 Corinthians 12 (WEB)

1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven.

3 I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),

4 how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

6 For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me.

7 By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.

8 Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

11 I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

12 Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.

13 For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.

14 Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?

16 But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.

17 Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you?

18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?

19 Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.

20 For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;

21 that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.

Summary

Though boasting gains nothing, Paul reluctantly turns to visions and revelations from the Lord. He describes a man in Christ—himself—caught up fourteen years ago into the third heaven, into paradise, where he heard inexpressible words that no one is permitted to tell. He will boast about such a man, but on his own behalf he will boast only of his weaknesses, refusing to let anyone think more of him than what they see and hear. To keep him from being conceited because of the surpassing greatness of these revelations, he was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment him. Three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away, but the Lord answered that his grace is sufficient, for his power is made perfect in weakness. So Paul will boast all the more gladly in his weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on him, and he learns to delight in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for Christ's sake, for when he is weak, then he is strong. He admits he has been foolish in boasting, but the Corinthians forced him to it, since they should have commended him; though he is nothing, he is in no way inferior to the super-apostles, and the signs of a true apostle—signs, wonders, and mighty works—were performed among them with patience. The only way they were treated worse than other churches, he says with irony, is that he refused to burden them; he asks forgiveness for that wrong. Now ready to come a third time, he will again not be a burden, for he seeks not their possessions but them, gladly spending and being spent for their souls even if they love him less for it. He denies craftily taking advantage of them through Titus or anyone he sent, insisting that everything he does is for their building up in the sight of God. Finally he voices his fear that when he comes he may find quarreling, jealousy, anger, slander, and disorder among them, and that he will be grieved and humbled over those who have sinned and not repented of their impurity and sexual immorality.

Main Characters

  • Paul — The apostle who, caught up to paradise yet humbled by a thorn, learns to glory in weakness so the power of Christ may rest upon him.
  • Christ the Lord — The one whose grace is sufficient and whose power is made perfect in weakness, whose strength rests on the weak who depend on him.
  • The messenger of Satan — The thorn in the flesh permitted to torment Paul, which God uses to keep him humble and dependent on grace.
  • The Corinthian believers — The church Paul longs to build up and spend himself for, whom he fears may still harbor strife, jealousy, and unrepented sin.

Key Verse

2 Corinthians 12:9 (WEB)

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Lessons Learned

  • Even the greatest spiritual experiences are no ground for pride before God.
  • God may leave a thorn in place to keep us humble and dependent on his grace.
  • Christ's grace is always sufficient, and his power is perfected in our weakness.
  • Love gladly spends itself for others, even when the love is not returned in kind.
  • Revelations can breed pride. The thorn was given “that I should not be exalted excessively” (2 Corinthians 12:7, WEB). God guards us even from the danger of our own blessings.
  • His grace is sufficient. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, WEB). We never need more than the grace already promised.
  • Weakness is the place of strength. “When I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10, WEB). Dependence on Christ, not self-sufficiency, is true power.
  • Love spends itself freely. “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls” (2 Corinthians 12:15, WEB). Genuine ministry gives without demanding return.
  1. Why does Paul speak so cautiously about his vision of paradise (12:1-6)?
  2. What was the purpose of Paul's “thorn in the flesh,” and how did God use it (12:7)?
  3. What does the Lord's answer in verse 9 teach us about grace and weakness?
  4. How does Paul's willingness to “spend and be spent” (12:15) model Christlike love?
  5. What weakness or limitation in your life might become a place to experience Christ's sufficient grace?
  1. Though Paul was “caught up into Paradise” and heard “unspeakable words” (12:4), he refuses to boast in it, speaking of himself in the third person and turning quickly to his weaknesses (12:5-6). He does not want anyone to think more of him than what they actually see in him. He guards against pride and against building his credibility on extraordinary experiences rather than on Christ.
  2. Paul was given “a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan,” specifically so he “should not be exalted excessively” by his revelations (12:7). Though it came from Satan to torment him, God permitted and used it to keep Paul humble and dependent. What was meant to harm became, in God's hands, a means of grace that anchored Paul in weakness.
  3. When Paul pleaded three times for relief, the Lord answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (12:9). Grace is not always the removal of our trouble but the sufficiency to bear it. Weakness, rather than disqualifying us, becomes the very place where Christ's power rests most visibly. God's strength shines through our acknowledged inadequacy.
  4. Paul says, “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?” (12:15). Like Christ, he pours himself out for others without insisting on return, willing to be drained for their good even if they love him less. This is self-giving love that seeks the beloved's welfare, not its own benefit.
  5. This is a personal-application question. The Lord told Paul his power “is made perfect in weakness” (12:9). Invite members to name a weakness, limitation, or thorn they wish were gone, and to consider that God's grace may be sufficient there. As leader, keep the tone gentle and hopeful, encouraging trust that Christ's strength rests on those who depend on him.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.