2 Corinthians 12:5-9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:8

I besought the Lord - That is, Christ, as the next verse absolutely proves, and the Socinians themselves confess. And if Christ be an object of prayer in such a case as this, or indeed in any case, it is a sure proof of his divinity; for only an omniscient Being can be made an object of prayer. Thrice - Several suppose this to be a certain number for an uncertain; as if he had said, I often besought Christ to deliver me from this tormentor: or, which is perhaps more likely, the apostle... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:9

My grace is sufficient for thee - Thou shalt not be permitted to sink under these afflictions. Thy enemies shall not be able to prevail against thee. My strength is made perfect in weakness - The more, and the more violently, thou art afflicted and tried, being upheld by my power, and prospered in all thy labors, the more eminently will my power be seen and acknowledged. For the weaker the instrument I use, the more the power of my grace shall be manifested. See at the end of this... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:5

Verse 5 5.Of such a man It is as though he had said “I have just ground for glorying, but I do not willingly avail myself of it. For it is more in accordance with my design, to glory in my infirmities If, however, those malicious persons harass me any farther, and constrain me to boast more than I am inclined to do, they shall feel that they have to do with a man, whom God has illustriously honored, and raised up on high, with a view to his exposing their follies. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:6

Verse 6 6.For if I should desire. Lest what he had said, as to his having no inclination to glory, should be turned into an occasion of calumny, and malevolent persons should reply — “You are not inclined for it, because it is not in your power, he anticipates such a reply. “I would have it quite in my power,” says he, “on good grounds; nor would I be justly accused of vanity, for I have ground to go upon, but I refrain from it.” He employs the term folly here in a different sense from what he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:7

Verse 7 7.And lest through the superiority of revelations. Here we have a second reason — that God, designing to repress in him every approach to insolence, subdued him with a rod. That rod he calls a goad, by a metaphor taken from oxen. The word flesh is, in the Greek, in the dative (898) Hence Erasmus has rendered it “by the flesh.” I prefer, however, to understand him as meaning, that the prickings of this goad were in his flesh. Now it is asked, what this goad was. Those act a ridiculous... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:8

Verse 8 8.For this thing I besought the Lord thrice. Here, also, (907) the number three is employed to denote frequent repetition. (908) He means, however, to intimate, that this annoyance had been felt by him distressing, inasmuch as he had so frequently prayed to be exempted from it. For if it had been slight, or easy to be endured, he would not have been so desirous to be freed from it; and yet he says that he had not obtained this: hence it appears, how much need he had of being humbled. He... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Verse 9 9.He said to me. It is not certain, whether he had this answer by a special revelation, and it is not of great importance. (910) For God answers us, when he strengthens us inwardly by his Spirit, and sustains us by his consolation, so that we do not give up hope and patience. He bids Paul be satisfied with his grace, and, in the mean time, not refuse chastisement. Hence we must bear up under evil of ever so long continuance, because we are admirably well dealt with, when we have the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:1-5

"It is not expedient," etc. These verses present two subjects of thought. I. APOSTOLIC PSYCHOLOGY . The words reveal certain ideas which Paul had concerning the human mind. He had the idea: 1 . That whilst here it is capable of existing separate from the body . "Whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell." If he had been certain that the soul could not exist whilst here apart from the body, would he have spoken thus? And who is not conscious... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:1-6

The old question as to his apostolic authority, which had recently been revived in a most exciting form, was not yet disposed of, and he must now discuss it in another aspect. So far as external circumstances were concerned, had not the prophetic declaration to Ananias been fulfilled?—"I will show him how great things he must suffer for my Name's sake." And, furthermore, he had proved that his own state of mind, the inward being of his soul, had corresponded with his call to suffer. The flesh... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 12:9

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 12:1-21

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