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BIBLE
STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday May 6, 2018
PAUL’S
VISION AND HIS THORN IN THE FLESH
2
Corinthians 12:1-10
The biblical concept of “humility”
calls for a total absence of pride and arrogance. It is a surrendering force in
us, that convinces us that, all that we have, and everything we are, we owe to
GOD. The greatest example of humility that this world has ever known is CHRIST
JESUS, our LORD. HE was willing to leave the comforts and riches of Heaven, to
be born of woman, and subject HIMSELF to the full measure of the human
experience, equipped with all of its weaknesses and vulnerabilities, so that we
might one day arrive in the “paradise” (par-ad-i-so - “Heaven”), from which HE came.
In 2 Corinthians 12, verses 1-10, the
Apostle Paul lets the Corinthians in on, what had to be at that time (and still
is today), two very startling personal revelations. One involves an enigmatic
vision of being “caught up”, or, “raptured” (from the Latin word “rapturo”)
into “the third Heaven”, which JESUS calls “paradise” (Luke 23:43, Revelations
2:7).
The second revelation involves an equally
mysterious and very puzzling phrase, “thorn in the flesh”, a terminology that
probably describes a physical condition, that Paul says, GOD used to keep him
in a state of CHRIST-like humility. In context, the “thorn in the flesh” that
Paul is speaking of here, could be anything that might seem to expose a
weakness within a person, or, make a person look vulnerable in the eyes of
those that he may be facing in opposition, or, seeking to minister to.
There are many biblical examples of where
GOD has turned, what appeared to be an obvious weakness, into an effective
weapon of strength, or, victory over those who were thought to possess a
superior power or might. GOD’s power is always best displayed, against the
backdrop of man’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and in Paul’s mind, he
believed that his weakness actually made him strong, in that respect (Vs.8-10).
Although Paul believed that his weakness
made him strong and successful in his work for the LORD, and that he worked
harder than all the other apostles, he also believed that he was the least of
all of the apostles, and that, it was only through GOD’s grace that he would
prevail over his opposition in the Church that CHRIST had charged him to
deliver.
Paul took no pleasure in boasting his
credentials as an authentic apostle in CHRIST. He did it only in hopes of
silencing his critics so that he might be able to minister more effectively and
freely. And like his Damascus Road experience (Acts 9:1-18), Paul’s experiences
as a “suffering servant” (2 Corinthians 11:16-33), and his revelation of being
“caught up” in the third Heaven, served as defining marks and moments that
authenticated and distinguished his calling to be like CHRIST, in the
performance of his ministry.
GOD’s “grace” transformed Paul’s
perspective in life, well beyond his own sufferings. Whenever Paul came to the
end of himself, our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST would take over and allow him
to accomplish his work, to the glory of GOD. In fact, that’s how GOD works in
the lives of all of us who desire to do HIS Will, HIS way.
It was Paul’s deepest hope to find when he
revisited Corinth, both, an overwhelming feeling of repent from the church,
and, an affirmation of loyalty to CHRIST and HIS teachings. However, instead of
coming to the defense of Paul against the accusations of the “false apostles”,
the Corinthians had remained somewhat passive, thus compelling Paul to engage
in foolish boasting as his only defense (v.1).
As we continue on in our Christian duties
as soldiers in the army of CHRIST, and we are in the midst of our own suffering
and feel that things can’t possibly get any worse, we can all take a measure of
rest in the thought that, as GOD’s humble servants, we have never once carried
the full weight of any of our own afflictions.
The Almighty GOD will never allow us to be
beat down by the very task that HE HIMSELF called us to do, for that is not the
way of a just GOD. HE will always be there, shouldering the bulk of our load,
letting us carry only that portion which HE created us to be able to carry. And
that, my fellow Christians, is called “grace”.
PAUL’S
CONCERN FOR THE CORINTHIANS
2
Corinthians 12:11-21
Now the boasting was over. Paul had played
the role of a fool, so that he might win the hearts of the Corinthians from the
false apostles, and deliver them back unto CHRIST JESUS, our LORD. Paul says in
verse 11, that the Corinthians had made him act like a fool with his own
boasting, and even though he didn’t consider himself much at all (all his
credentials belonged to GOD), he still didn’t consider himself inferior to the
so-called “super apostles” who displayed their talents and false teaching
before them.
Paul felt that he had provided every proof
of his authenticity as an apostle of CHRIST, for all to see, and through the
grace of GOD, he also performed many signs and miracles among them. In verse
13, he adds sarcastically, that, the only thing he didn’t do was to be a
financial burden to them, and he asked that they forgive him for not taking
their money.
Paul told the church at Corinth plainly
that he doesn’t want what they have, but rather, he only wanted them to be
children in CHRIST. Little children don’t pay their parent’s way, but rather,
parents pay the children’s way. They feed them just as he had fed them the
Gospel of the CHRIST, and Paul says that he would give all that he had to
supply their spiritual needs, even though it seemed the more he loved them, the
less they loved him (v.15).
Apparently some of the Corinthians thought
that Paul’s not publically or openly seeking financial gains from them, was
just a ruse to cloak his love of money. They had, no doubt, been convinced by
the false apostles that he, along with Titus and the other unnamed brother,
were trying to take advantage of them, and would try and highjack the
collection for Jerusalem instead of delivering it to the Mother Church as promised
(Vs.16-18). However, the money was safely delivered and now Paul points out to
them, just how wrong they were for not trusting him, who shares the same SPIRIT
and honesty as Titus and the other man, who were his protégés.
Paul wrote this difficult letter out of
deep concern for the spiritual well-being of the Corinthian church, who, was
showing obvious signs of backsliding. He had hoped that he could
“nip-in-the-bud” some of the spiritual damage that the anti-CHRIST apostles had
done there with their false teaching.
A failure to unite with the plan of GOD
always produces “immorality”. Because of our “accepted sin nature” from satan,
man will never be able to agree with each other, for there is no unity apart
from GOD. That is why we have developed all of our man-made Christian
denominations over the centuries, because we refuse to agree “completely” with
GOD.
Nobody wants to agree with GOD, and we
can’t possibly agree with the flawed imperfections of each other. Only the mind
of GOD can create a “true religion” (Christianity) that can work for all men
and women, all of the time, one that all mankind can abide under together. No
man can concoct a “true religion” that all men can abide under and live by,
simply because we’re all, ourselves, men under the judgment of GOD.
The eight sins mentioned in verse 20 all
stem from “divisiveness” (“schismata”) from GOD’s plan, and so does the three
sins mentioned in verse 21. Legalism in frequently used to cover up immorality,
and it is no different in this case with the Corinthians. Paul feared that when
he re-visited the church at Corinth that he wouldn’t like what he would find.
He feared that he would find a church full of un-repented sinners, who had
simply fallen away, from GOD’s plan.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
