2 Corinthians 12

V1. “go on boasting…” what does he go on from? See 2 Corinthians 11:30. Why must  he go on boasting? What does he hope to achieve from boasting?

In 2 Corinthians 11:21-30 what sorts of things does he “boast” about? How different are these things from “visions and revelations from the Lord.” Does this imply that his critics and the “super apostles” claimed to have these - to what advantage?

Visions and revelations happened in New Testament times:

· Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, had a vision of an angel (Luke 1:8-23).

· Jesus’ transfiguration is described as a vision for the disciples (Matthew 17:9).

· The women who came to visit Jesus’ tomb had a vision of angels (Luke 24:22-24).

· Stephen saw a vision of Jesus at his death (Acts 7:55-56).

· Ananias experienced a vision telling him to go to Saul (Acts 9:10).

· Peter had a vision of the clean and unclean animals (Acts 10:17-19 and 11:5).

· Peter had a vision of an angel at his release from prison (Acts 12:9).

· John had many visions on Patmos (Revelation 1:1).

· Paul had a revelation of Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 22:6-11 and 26:12-20).

· Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia, asking him to come to that region to help (Acts 16:9-10).

· Paul had an encouraging vision while in Corinth (Acts 18:9-11).

· Paul had a vision of an angel on the ship that was about to be wrecked (Acts 27:23-25).

Why not have visions and revelations from the Lord now? Have you experiences them? If they happen how do we treat them?

V2. Who was this man in Christ ? 

1st heaven: The region around us. 2nd heaven: the starry heaven. 3rd heaven: Paradise. 

If this was 14 years ago why was it not talked about before?

V3-4 If Paul was uncertain what this all meant or no one is permitted to tell can we be sure what it means? 

Did the man see or only hear inexpressible things?

V5 Why was Paul prepared to talk about this man but not himself? What is the contrast between this man and Paul?

V6-7 Do these verses imply that “the man” is Paul? If not did Paul have such experiences as well?

See Acts 9:3-5. Galatians 1:21-2:1. Acts 14:19. Acts 13:1-3.

Does Paul mean that he was boasting about having visions and revelations and was telling the truth, OR if I boast at all I only ever tell the truth?

“But I don’t boast (including about visions etc) because don’t want anyone to give me credit I don't want or deserve?”

Did Paul have these or other experience why? What’s the point?

Would you like some visions and revelations from the Lord?

The root word Paul used for thorn here describes a tent stake, not a thumbtack. “something which frustrates and causes trouble in the lives of those afflicted.”

Where did the thorn come from? 

Should you ask for it to be removed? (Three times - compare with Mark 14:39-41. “That does not mean three times. It is the Hebrew figure for ceaselessly, continuously, over and over again.” (Morgan))

Was it evident to the Corinthians and contribute to the relationship problems between Pau and the Corinthians?

Have you ever been given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment you?

V8-10 Would a thorn in the flesh (which torments, buffets, weakens, humiliates you) be good for you? Be a blessing?

Would you boast about it?

How does My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness work in practice?

Does I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties sound realistic? How does it sound?

When you need grace how do you get it?

V11-13 In what way has Paul made a fool of himself? Can anyone drive you to making a fool of yourself? How did the Corinthians do it to Paul?

How did the Corinthians get it wrong?

How did Paul show he was not a “super-apostle” but a “true apostle”?

If the Corinthians were inferior to other churches, or Paul treated them as such, In what was were they treated differently? Does this make them inferior?

V14-18 On his first visit to Corinth, Paul founded the church and stayed a year and six months (Acts 18:11). His second visit was a brief, painful visit in between the writing of 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians. Now he is prepared to come for a third time.

In what way will he not be a burden to them? 

How does V15 demonstrate V14b

What does “what I want is not your possessions but you.”,mean?

Can “If I love you more, will you love me less? “ happen?

Is Paul being sarcastic towards his opponents in V16b-17 or claiming success? Has he been tricky, Has he exploited them? What footsteps did they walk in?

V19-21 Has he been defending himself? Did he need to? What was his motivation?

What is Paul fearful of finding when he comes to Corinth? (V20-21) 

Did he hope they would have repented, turned away from worldliness, from the false teachers?  If they had how would it show? If not, how would that affect Paul?

Did he expect perfection?