2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10

[Jim Watt]

“*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES*

*Jim & Marie Watt*

*Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com*

*Web: www.2rbetter.org*

*September 7, 2009
<http://www.2rbetter.org/>*



   *O. 2 CORINTHIANS 11:16-12:10*

*WEAKNESS: PAUL'S SECRET OF POWER AND BOASTING*

*1. 11:16-33 PAUL'S UNUSUAL SUFFERING IN THE FLESH*

*a. 11:16 PAUL: PREPARES FOR A FOOLISH DEFENCE*
 PAlin LEg*o*, m*e* tis me DOx*e* [1380] Aphro-na [878] EInai; ei de M*E*ge,

*I say again, Let no one think me foolish; but if you do, *

ka' 'n hos Aphro-na DExasTHE me, HIna ka' 'GO miKRON te kauCHEso-mai [2744].


*yet as foolish receive me, that I also my glory a little. *


 *b. 11:17 PAUL'S GLORYING OUT OF FOOLISHNESS*

ho laL*O*, ou kaTA KUri-on laL*O*,

*What I speak, I speak not after the Lord,*

all' h*o*s en a-phroSUn*e* [877], en TAUt*e* t*e* hu-poSTAsei [5287] t*e*s
kauCH*E*se-*o*s [2746].

*but as in foolishness, in this :confidence of the glorying.*


 *c. 11:18 PAUL: GLORIES OUT OF FLESH*

ePEI polLOI kauCH*O*Ntai kaTA t*e*n SARka [4561], ka' 'G*O* kauCH*E*so-mai.

*Since many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.*


 *d. 11:19 PAUL INDIRECTLY REBUKES THE CORINTHIANS*

h*e*DE*o*s gar aNEches-the [430] t*o*n aPHROn*o*n, PHROni-moi [5429] ONtes.

*For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise.*


 *e. 11:20 THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE CORINTHIANS*

aNEches-the [430] gar, ei tis huMAS ka-ta-douLOI [2615],

*For you bear with one, if he enslave you,*

ei tis ka-tesTHIei [2719], ei tis lamBAnei [2983],

*if he devours, if he takes you,*

ei tis ePAIre-tai [1869], ei tis eis PROs*o*-pon [4383] huMAS DErei [1184].

*if he exalts himself, if he smites you on the face.*


 *f. 11:21a PAUL EXCUSES HIS REBUKE*

kaTA a-tiMIan [819] LEg*o*, h*o*s HOti h*e*MEIS *e*s-theN*E*ka-men [770].

*I speak by disparagement, as though WE had been weak. *


 *g. 11:21b PAUL'S BOLDNESS OUT OF FOOLISHNESS*

en h*o* d' an tis tolMA [5111] (en a-phroSUn*e* [877] LEg*o*), tolM*O* ka'
'G*O*.

*Yet wherein any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.*


 *h. 11:22a QUESTION*

E-BRAI-OI ei-sin? ka' 'G*O*.

*Are they Hebrews? I also.*


 *i. 11:22b QUESTION*

Is-ra-*e*LEI-TAI ei-sin? ka' 'G*O*.

*Are they Israelites? I also.*


 *j. 11:22c QUESTION*

SPERma [4690] A-braAM ei-sin? ka' 'G*O*.

*Are they Abraham's seed? I also.*


 *k. 11:23 QUESTION*

diAko-noi [1249] ChrisTOU ei-sin? (pa-ra-phroN*O*N [3912] laL*O*) huPER eG*O
*;

*Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more;*

en KOpois [2873] pe-ris-soTEr*o*s [4056], en phu-laKAIS [5438] pe-ris-soTEr*
o*s,

*in toils more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly,*

en pl*e*GAIS [4127] hu-per-balLONt*o*s [5234], en thaNAtois [2288] polLAkis
[4178].

*in stripes above measure, in deaths often.*


 *l. 11:24-27 PAUL LISTS HIS PAST SUFFERINGS*

huPO 'IouDAI*o*n penTAkis tes-seRAkon-ta [5062] paRA MIan Ela-bon;

*Of the Jews I received forty stripes save one five times;*

tris e-rabDISth*e*n [4463], HApax e-liTHASth*e*n [3034],

*25 was beaten thrice, was stoned once, *

tris e-nauAg*e*-sa [3489], nuchTH*E*me-ron [3574] en t*o* buTH*O* pePOI*e*-ka
[4160];

*suffered shipwreck thrice, a night and a day have I been in the deep;*

ho-doi-poRIais [2794] polLAkis, kinDUnois po-taM*O*N,

*26 in journeyings often, in perils of rivers,*

kinDUnois l*e*s-T*O*N [3027], kinDUnois [2794] ek GEnous [1083],* *kinDUnois
ex ethN*O*N [1484],

*perils of robbers, perils from my race, perils from the nations,*

kinDUnois en POlei [4172], kinDUnois en e-r*e*MIa [2047],

*perils in city, perils in wilderness,*

kinDUnois en thaLASs*e* [2281], kinDUnois en pseu-daDELphois [5569];

*perils at sea, perils among false brethren;*

KOp*o* [2873] kai MOCHth*o* [3449], en a-grupNIais [70] polLAkis, en liM*O*
[3042] kai DIpsei [1372],

*27 in toil and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst,*

en n*e*STEIais [3521] polLAkis, en PSUchei [5592] kai gumNOt*e*ti [1132].

*in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.*


 *m. 11:28 PRESSURE FROM CHURCH NEEDS*

ch*o*RIS t*o*n pa-rekTOS, h*e* ePIstaSIS [1999] moi h*e* kath' h*e*MEran,

*Besides the things without, there is :what presses upon me :daily,*

h*e* MErim-na [3308] paS*O*N t*o*n ek-kl*e*-si*O*N 1577].

*the anxiety for all the churches.*


 *n. 11:29 QUESTIONS*

tis as-theNEI [770], kai ouk as-theN*O*?

*Who is weak, and I am not weak?*

tis skan-daLIze-tai [4624], kai ouk eG*O* puROUmai [4448]?

*who is stumbled, and I burn not?*


 *o. 11:30 PAUL: WILL GLORY ONLY IN HIS WEAKNESS*

ei kauCHASthai [2744] dei, ta t*e*s as-theNEIas [769] mou kauCH*E*so-mai.

*if I must glory, I will glory of the things of my :weakness.*


 *p. 11:31 GOD: HIS WITNESS TO HIS TRUTHFULNESS*

ho TheOS kai paT*E*R tou KuRIou 'I*e*SOU OIden,

*The God and Father of the Lord Jesus,*

ho *o*n eu-lo-g*e*TOS [2128] eis tous ai*O*nas, HOti ou PSEUdo-mai [5574].

*who is blessed unto the ages, knows that I lie not.*


 *q. 11:32-33 PAUL'S ESCAPE FROM DAMASCUS*

en Da-masK*O* ho ethNARch*e*s [1481] A-REta tou ba-siLE*o*s [935]

*In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king*

ePHROUrei [5432] t*e*n POlin Da-mas-k*e*N*O*N piAsai [4084] me:

*guarded the city of the Damascenes to take me:*

kai diA thuRIdos [2376] en sarGAn*e* [4553] e-chaLASth*e*n [5465]

*33 and through a window was I let down in a basket*

diA tou TEIchous [5038], kai eXEphu-gon [1628] tas CHEIras [5495] auTOU.

*through the wall, and escaped his :hands.*


 *2. 12:1-9a PAUL REVEALS HIS UNUSUAL REVELATIONS*

*a. 12:1 VISIONS AND REVELATIONS*

KauCHASthai deI, ou sumPHEron [4851] men;

*I must glory, though it is not expedient;*

eLEUso-mai de eis op-taSIas [3701] kai a-po-kaLUpseis [602] KuRIou.

*but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.*


 *b. 12:2 A VISION OF THE THIRD HEAVEN*

OIda ANthr*o*-pon en ChrisT*O*, pro eT*O*N DEka TESsa-r*o*n

*I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago*

(EIte en S*O*ma-ti, ouk OIda;

*(whether in the body, I know not;*

EIte ekTOS tou S*O*ma-tos, ouk OIda; ho TheOS OIden),

*whether out of the body, I know not; :God knows),*

har-paGENta [726] ton toiOUton HE*o*s TRItou ou-raNOU.

*:such a one caught up even to the third heaven.*


 *c. 12:3-4 A VISION OF PARADISE*

kai OIda ton toiOUton ANthr*o*-pon (EIte en S*O*ma-ti,

*And I know :such a man (whether in the body,*

EIte ch*o*RIS tou S*O*ma-tos, ouk OIda; ho TheOS OIden),

*or apart from the body, I know not; :God knows),*

HOti h*e*rPAg*e* eis ton paRAdei-son [3857], kai *E*kou-sen

*4 how that he was caught up into :Paradise, and heard*

ARr*e*-ta [731] 'R*E*ma-ta [4487], ha ouk eXON anTHR*O*p*o* laL*E*sai.

*unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for man to speak.*


 *d. 12:5 PAUL GLORIES IN HIS WEAKNESSES, NOT HIS REVELATIONS*

huPER tou toiOUtou kauCH*E*so-mai [2744]:

*On behalf of the such I will glory:*

huPER de e-mauTOU ou kauCH*E*so-mai, ei m*e* en tais as-theNEIais [769].

*but on my own behalf I will not glory, save in :weaknesses.*


 *e. 12:6-7a PAUL'S REVELATIONS, THOUGH TRUE, ARE NOT TO BE GLORIED IN*

eAN gar theL*E*s*o* kauCH*E*sas-thai, ouk Eso-mai Aphr*o*n [878];

*For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish;*

aL*E*thei-an [225] gar eR*O*: PHEIdo-mai [5339] de, m*e* tis eis eME loGIs*e
*-tai [3049]

*for I shall speak truth: but I forbear, lest any one should account*

huPER ho BLEpei [991] me, *e* aKOUei [191] ex eMOU,

*of me above what he sees me to be, or hears from me,*

kai t*e* hu-per-boL*E* [5236] t*o*n a-po-kaLUpse-*o*n [602].

*7 and by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations.*


 *f. 12:7b THE PURPOSE OF PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH*

di' ho m*e* hu-peRAIr*o*-mai [5229],

*Wherefore that I be not exalted overmuch,*

eDOth*e* moi SKOlops [4647] t*e* sarKI, AGge-los [32] Sa-taNA [4566] HIna me
ko-laPHIz*e* [2852],

*a thorn in the flesh was given me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me,*

HIna m*e* hu-peRAIr*o*-mai [5229].

*that I be not exalted overmuch.*


 *g. 12:8 PAUL'S REQUEST*

huPER TOUtou tris ton KUri-on pa-reKAle-sa [3870],

*Concerning this I besought the Lord thrice,*

HIna a-poST*E* [868] ap' eMOU.

*that it might depart from me.*


 *h. 12:9a THE LORD'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS A THORN IN THE FLESH*

kai EIr*e*KEN moi, ArKEI [714] soi h*e* CHAris mou:

*And he said to me, My :grace is sufficient for you:*

h*e* gar DUna-mis en as-theNEIa [769] teLEItai [5048].

*for the power is made perfect in weakness.*


 *3. 12:9b-10 THE RELATIONSHIP OF WEAKNESS AND CHRIST'S POWER*

*a. 12:9b POWER OF CHRIST SUPERCEDES OUR WEAKNESSES*

H*E*dis-ta [2236] oun MALlon kauCH*E*so-mai [2744] en tais as-theNEIais
[769],

*Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in :weaknesses,*

HIna ePI sk*e*N*O*s*e* [1981] ep' h*e* DUna-mis [1411] tou ChrisTOU.

*that the :power of the Christ may spread a tabernacle over me.*


 *b. 12:10 PAUL'S WISE APPLICATION OF THE ABOVE*

di' ho eu-doK*O* [2106] en as-theNEIais [769], en HUbre-sin [5196],

*Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries,*

en aNAGkais [318], en di-*o*gMOIS [1375], kai ste-no-ch*o*RIais [4730],
huPER ChrisTOU:

*in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake:*

HOtan gar as-theN*O* [770], TOte du-naTOS [1415] ei-mi.

*for when I am weak, then am I strong.*



 *PARTAKERS OF HIS SUFFERINGS*

*(From “My Utmost for His Highest” - Oswald Chambers)*


 *1 Peter 4:13 (12-19) “. . . but rejoice to the extent that you partake of
Christ's sufferings . . .”*


 If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of
experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed
to make you useful in his hands, and to enable you to understand what takes
place in the lives of others. Because of this process, you will never be
surprised by what comes your way. You say, “Oh, I can't deal with that
person.” Why can't you? God gave you sufficient opportunities to learn from
Him about that problem; but you turned away, not heeding that lesson,
because it seemed foolish to spend your time that way.


 The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary people. He
suffered “*according
to the will of God” *(1 Peter 4:19, having a different point of view of
suffering from ours. It is only through our relationship with Jesus Christ
that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. When it
comes to suffering, it is part of our Christian culture to want to know
God's purpose beforehand. In the history of the Christian church, the
tendency has been to avoid being identified with the sufferings of Jesus
Christ. People have sought to carry out God's orders through a shortcut of
their own. God's way is always the way of suffering - the way of the “Long
road home.”


 Are we partakers of Christ's sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp
out our personal ambitions? Are we prepared for God to destroy our
individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them? It will mean not
knowing why God is taking us that way, because knowing would make us
spiritually proud. We never realize at the time what God is putting us
through - we go through it more or less without understanding. Then suddenly
we come to a place of enlightenment, and realize - “God has strengthened me
and I didn't even know it!”


 *NOTE**:* From Paul's understanding in this portion of 2 Corinthians, we
can see that even he did not understand the wisdom of God in the “thorn in
his flesh.” It was to ensure that his extraordinary visions concerning the
“mysteries” of God would not cause him to have pride. And do we want to be
used of God? Then the wisdom given to Oswald Chambers concerning the
necessity of suffering to prepare us as channels of God - cannot in any way
be by-passed. May God bless us each one as we determine to press in on this
pathway. J.A.W.



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