2 Corinthians 12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:4

How that he was caught up into paradise ,.... Not the earthly paradise in which our first parents were; this was destroyed by the flood, and the place where it was not now to be known; and to what purpose the apostle should be carried thither cannot be guessed at; though some have thought that this is here meant: but not this, nor any place distinct from the "third" heaven, or place of the blessed, is meant; which is the sense of many of the ancients, who suppose the third heaven and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:5

Of such an one will I glory ,.... The apostle in great modesty seems to speak of some other person, and not himself, as caught up into the third heaven, when he yet means himself; and does as it were distinguish himself from himself; himself in paradise from himself on earth; his sense is, that though he might lawfully glory of such a person so highly exalted and favoured, yet since this was his own case, he chose to forbear, and say no more of it: yet of myself I will not glory ; though... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:6

For though I would desire to glory ,..... Had a mind to it, chose it, and was fond of it, thought fit to proceed in this way concerning this vision, or this with many others: I shall not be a fool ; in reality; though he might seem and be thought to be so by others; he does indeed before call his glorying "folly", and "speaking foolishly"; but he means only as it might be interpreted by others, for in fact it was not: the reason is, for I will say the truth ; he said nothing but what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:7

And lest I should be exalted above measure ,.... Over much elated in his mind, and swelled with a vain conceit of himself: through the abundance of the revelations ; for he had not only one or two, or a few, but an abundance of them; and which, as everything does but grace, tended to lift up his mind, to stir up the pride of his heart, and to entertain too high and exalted thoughts of himself. Pride is naturally in every man's heart; converted persons are not without it; knowledge,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:8

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice ,.... With respect to the thorn in the flesh, the messenger Satan, who gave him so much continual disturbance. This sent him to the throne of grace, to request of the Lord, that it , or rather, "he might" depart from me : this request greatly confirms the above sense, for it can hardly be thought the apostle would be so importunate about the removal of a common bodily affliction; and he knew that the corruption of his nature would remain with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:9

And he said unto me ,.... Either by what the Jews call קול בת , "Bath Kol", a voice from heaven, an articulate audible one; or by some extraordinary revelation of the Spirit of God; or by a divine impression upon his mind; whereby he was assured of what follows, my grace is sufficient for thee ; the Lord always hears and answers his people sooner or later, in one form or another, though not always in the way and manner they desire; but yet in such a way as is most for his glory and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:10

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities ,.... Not in them simply considered, but as they were made use of to his advantage, for the exercise of his grace, and for his more abundant consolation; and especially as they tended to the glory of Christ, and made his grace, power, and strength the more conspicuous: by infirmities are meant all outward troubles, everything that is mean and abject, distressing and afflicting, whether from Satan or the world; it seems to be a general term, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:11

I am become a fool in glorying ,.... This is either to be understood conditionally, if he had acted as a fool in commending himself, or was to be reckoned and called so by others, for glorying of himself, his visions and revelations; or as an ironical concession, allowing himself to be a fool for so doing, as he knew he should be traduced by his enemies; which concession he makes with a view to remove the blame from himself, and cast it upon the Corinthians: ye have compelled me: they were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:12

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you ,.... Not only the doctrine which he preached, the power that attended it, and the success it met with among them, were clear signs and evident proofs of his being sent by Christ; not only they themselves, who were converted under his ministry, were testimonials and seals of his apostleship, but also the many other wonderful works done by him confirmed the same, and showed him to be an apostle, and that he was not a whit behind, but equal... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:13

For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches ,.... The apostle here suggests, and appeals to themselves for the truth of it, that in nothing they came short of other churches; that as he was not behind the very chiefest of the apostles, and so they had no reason to be ashamed of him and despise him; neither were they inferior in gifts, grace, and knowledge, to other churches, all which were through his ministry; wherefore they ought to have spoken well of him, and not to have... read more

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