2 Corinthians 12 · Robertson's Word Pictures

1I must needs glory (kauchastha de). This is the reading of B L Latin Syriac, but Aleph D Bohairic have de while K M read de. The first is probably correct. He must go on with the glorying already begun, foolish as it is, though it is not expedient (ou sumpheron).

Visions (optasias). Late word from optazo. See on Lu 1:22; Ac 26:19 .

Revelations of the Lord (apokalupseis Kuriou). Unveilings (from apokalupto as in Re 1:1 ). See on 2Th 1:7; 1Co 1:7; 14:26 . Paul had both repeated visions of Christ (Ac 9:3; 16:9; 18:9; 22:17; 27:23f. ) and revelations. He claimed to speak by direct revelation (1Co 11:23; 15:3; Ga 1:12; Eph 3:3 , etc.).

2I know a man (oida anthropon). Paul singles out one incident of ecstasy in his own experience that he declines to describe. He alludes to it in this indirect way as if it were some other personality.

Fourteen years ago (pro eton dekatessaron). Idiomatic way of putting it, the preposition pro (before) before the date (Robertson, Grammar, p. 621f.) as in Joh 12:1 . The date was probably while Paul was at Tarsus (Ac 9:30; 11:25 ). We have no details of that period. Caught up (αρπαγεντα). Second aorist passive participle of αρπαζω, to seize (see on Mt 11:12 ). Even to the third heaven (εως τριτου ουρανου). It is unlikely that Paul alludes to the idea of seven heavens held by some Jews (Test. of the Twelve Pat., Levi ii. iii.). He seems to mean the highest heaven where God is (Plummer).

3I do not know (ouk oida). Paul declines to pass on his precise condition in this trance. We had best leave it as he has told it.

4Into Paradise (eis paradeison). See on Lu 23:43 for this interesting word. Paul apparently uses paradise as the equivalent of the third heaven in verse 2. Some Jews (Book of the Secrets of Enoch, chapter viii) make Paradise in the third heaven. The rabbis had various ideas (two heavens, three, seven). We need not commit Paul to any "celestial gradation" (Vincent).

Unspeakable words (arreta remata). Old verbal adjective (a privative, retos from reo), only here in N.T.

Not lawful (ouk exon). Copula estin omitted. Hence Paul does

not give these words.

5But on mine own behalf (uper de emautou). As if there were two Pauls. In a sense there were. He will only glory in the things mentioned above, the things of his weaknesses ( 11:30).

6I shall not be foolish (ouk esoma aphron). Apparent contradiction to 11:1,16 . But he is here speaking of the Paul "caught up" in case he should tell the things heard (condition of the third class, ean and first aorist subjunctive theleso).

Of me (eis eme). To my credit, almost like dative (cf. en emo in 1Co 14:11 ).

7By reason of the exceeding greatness (te uperbole). Instrumental case, "by the excess."

That I should not be exalted overmuch (ina me uperairoma). Present passive subjunctive in final clause of uperairo, old verb to lift up beyond, only here in N.T. This clause is repeated at the end of the sentence.

A thorn in the flesh (skolops te sark). This old word is used for splinter, stake, thorn. In the papyri and inscriptions examples occur both for splinter and thorn as the meaning. In the LXX it is usually thorn. The case of te sark can be either locative (in) or dative (for). What was it? Certainly it was some physical malady that persisted. All sorts of theories are held (malaria, eye-trouble, epilepsy, insomnia, migraine or sick-headache, etc.). It is a blessing to the rest of us that we do not know the particular affliction that so beset Paul. Each of us has some such splinter or thorn in the flesh, perhaps several at once.

Messenger of Satan (angelos Satana). Angel of Satan, the affliction personified.

Buffet (kolaphize). See on Mt 26:67; 1Co 4:11 for this late and rare word from kolaphos, fist. The messenger of Satan kept slapping Paul in the face and Paul now sees that it was God's will for it to be so.

8Concerning this thing (uper toutou). More likely, "concerning this messenger of Satan."

That it might depart from me (ina aposte aph' emou). Second aorist active (intransitive) subjunctive of aphistem in final clause, "that he stand off from me for good."

9He hath said (eireken). Perfect active indicative, as if a final word. Paul probably still has the thorn in his flesh and needs this word of Christ.

Is sufficient (arke). Old word of rich meaning, perhaps kin to Latin arceo, to ward off against danger. Christ's grace suffices and abides.

Is perfected (teleita). Present passive indicative of teleo, to finish. It is linear in idea. Power is continually increased as the weakness grows. See Php 4:13 for this same noble conception. The human weakness opens the way for more of Christ's power and grace.

Most gladly rather (edista mallon). Two adverbs, one superlative (edista), one comparative (mallon). "Rather" than ask any more (thrice already) for the removal of the thorn or splinter "most gladly will I glory in my weaknesses." Slowly Paul had learned this supreme lesson, but it will never leave him (Ro 5:2; 2Ti 4:6-8 ).

May rest upon me (episkenose ep' eme). Late and rare verb in first aorist active subjunctive with ina (final clause), to fix a tent upon, here upon Paul himself by a bold metaphor, as if the Shechinah of the Lord was overshadowing him (cf. Lu 9:34 ), the power (dunamis) of the Lord Jesus.

10Wherefore I take pleasure (dio eudoko). For this noble word see on Mt 3:17; 2Co 5:8 . The enemies of Paul will have a hard time now in making Paul unhappy by persecutions even unto death (Php 1:20-26 ). He is not courting martyrdom, but he does not fear it or anything that is "for Christ's sake" (uper Christou).

For when (otan gar). "For whenever," indefinite time.

Then I am strong (tote dunatos eim). At that very time, but not in myself, but in the fresh access of power from Christ for the emergency.

11I am become foolish (gegona aphron). Perfect active indicative of ginoma. In spite of what he said in verse 6 that he would not be foolish if he gloried in the other Paul. But he feels that he has dropped back to the mood of 11:1,16 . He has been swept on by the memory of the ecstasy.

For I ought to have been commended by you (ego gar opheilon uph' umon sunistastha). Explanation of "ye compelled me." Imperfect active opheilon of opheilo, to be under obligation, and the tense here expresses an unfulfilled obligation about the present. But sunistastha is present passive infinitive, not aorist or perfect passive. He literally means, "I ought now to be commended by you" instead of having to glorify myself. He repeats his boast already made (11:5f. ), that he is no whit behind "the super-extra apostles" (the Judaizers), "though I am nothing" (e ka ouden eim). Even boasting himself against those false apostles causes a reaction of feeling that he has to express (cf. 1Co 15:9; 1Ti 1:15f. ).

12Of an apostle (tou apostolou). "Of the apostle" (definite article). Note the three words here for miracles wrought by Paul (semeia, signs, terata, wonders, dunameis, powers or miracles) as in Heb 2:4 .

13Wherein ye were made inferior (o essothete). First aorist passive indicative of essooma, the text of Aleph B D instead of the usual ettethete from the common ettaoma to be inferior or less from the comparative etton. See esson in verse 15. Ho is the neuter accusative with the passive verb (Robertson, Grammar, p. 479).

Forgive me this wrong (charisasthe mo ten adikian tauten). Consummate irony to the stingy element in this church (cf. 11:9).

14Third time I am ready to come (triton touto etoimos echo). Had he been already twice or only once? He had changed his plans once when he did not go (1:15f. ). He will not change his plans now. This looks as if he had only been once (that in Ac 18 ). Note the third use of katanarkao (11:9; 12:13,14 ). They need not be apprehensive. He will be as financially independent of them as before. "I shall not sponge on you."

Not yours, but you (ou ta umon, alla umas). The motto of every real preacher.

To lay up (thesaurizein). For this use of the verb see 1Co 16:2 (Mt 6:19-21; Jas 5:3 ).

15I will most gladly spend and be spent (edista dapaneso ka ekdapanethesoma). Both future active of old verb dapanao (Mr 5:26 ) to spend money, time, energy, strength and the future passive of ekdapanao, late compound to spend utterly, to spend out, (ek-), to spend wholly. Only here in N.T.

16I did not myself burden you (ego ou katebaresa umas). First aorist active of late verb katabareo, to press a burden down on one. Only here in N.T.

Crafty (panourgos). Old word from pan, all, and ergo, to do anything (good or bad). Good sense is skilful, bad sense cunning. Only here in N.T. and Paul is quoting the word from his enemies.

With guile (dolo). Instrumental case of dolos, bait to catch fish with. The enemies of Paul said that he was raising this big collection for himself. Moffatt has done well to put these charges in quotation marks to make it plain to readers that Paul is ironical.

17Did I take advantage (epleonektesa). Paul goes right to the point without hedging. For this verb from pleon and echo, to have more, see on 2Co 2:11; 7:2 .

By any one of them (tina--di' autou). An anacoluthon for tina is left in the accusative without a verb and di' autou takes up the idea, "as to any one by him."

Whom (on). The genitive relative is attracted from the accusative ous into the case of the unexpressed antecedent touton). Me expects the negative answer as does met in 18.

18The brother (ton adelphon). Probably the brother of Titus (cf. 8:18).

Did Titus take advantage of you? (met epleonektesen umas Titos?). That puts the issue squarely.

By the same Spirit (to auto pneumat). That translation refers to the Holy Spirit and makes the case instrumental. The locative case, "in the same spirit," makes it mean that Paul's attitude is the same as that of Titus and most likely is correct, for "in the same steps" (tois autois ichnesin) is in locative case.

19Ye think all this time (pala dokeite). Progressive present indicative, "for a long time ye have been thinking."

We are excusing ourselves (apologoumetha). He is not just apologizing, but is in deadly earnest, as they will find out when he comes.

20Lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would (me pos elthon ouch oious thelo euro umas). An idiomatic construction after the verb of fearing (phobouma) with me pos as the conjunction and with ouch as the negative of the verb euro (second aorist active subjunctive of eurisko), me the conjunction, ouch the negative. See Robertson, Grammar, p. 995.

And I be found (kago euretho). Same construction with first aorist passive subjunctive.

Such as ye would not (oion ou thelete). Neat change in voice just before and position of the negative here.

Lest by any means (me pos). Still further negative purpose by repeating the conjunction. With graphic pen pictures Paul describes what had been going on against him during his long absence.

Backbitings (katalalia). Late and rare word. In N.T. only here and 1Pe 2:1 . If it only existed nowhere else!

Whisperings (psithurismo). Late word from psithurizo, to whisper into one's ear. An onomatopoetic word for the sibilant murmur of a snake charmer (Ec 10:11 ). Only here in N.T.

Swellings (phusioseis). From phusioo, to swell up, late word only here and in ecclesiastical writers. Did Paul make up the word for the occasion? See on 1Co 4:6 for verb.

Tumults (akatastasia). See on 2Co 6:5 .

21When I come again (palin elthontos mou). Genitive absolute. Paul assumes it as true.

Lest my God humble me (me tapeinose me o theos mou). Negative final clause (me and first aorist active subjunctive), going back to phobouma in 20. He means a public humiliation as his fear. The conduct of the church had been a real humiliation whether he refers to a previous visit or not.

That have sinned heretofore (ton proemartekoton). Genitive plural of the articular perfect active participle of proamartano to emphasize continuance of their sinful state as opposed to me metanoesanton (did not repent) in the aorist tense.

2 Corinthians 13

Study 2 Corinthians 12