But this does not pertain to the case before us.My grace is sufficient for thee - A much better answer than it would have been to have removed the calamity; and one that seems to have been entirely satisfactory to Paul. Epis. He also valued the results that came about as a result of his surrender to God’s will for his life, even the hardship of this humbling thorn.I highly recommend you hit the play button below to see this incredible commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:9.Here’s another exceptional commentary from a bible study on 2 Corinthians 12:9. The promised grace of Christ as sufficient to support us is of more value than would be the mere removal of any bodily affliction. He said that he had pleaded with God to remove this “messenger from Satan” (2 Cor 12:8) but God’s reply was our verse 9.God will not have us stand on our own strength.
The Lord puts the words into Paul's mouth, that following them up he might say, "O Lord, Thy grace is sufficient for me" [Bengel].is made perfect—has its most perfect manifestation.in weakness—Do not ask for sensible strength, FOR My power is perfected in man's "strengthlessness" (so the Greek). And he said unto me Either by what the Jews call (lwq) (tb) , "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; Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ …
That is, because if his apostleship were subverted, his doctrine would necessarily fall.
He had come to love the fact that he had “died, and [his] life [was] now hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3). The force of the perfect tense is to be insisted on. Paul’s claim is that God had given him a “thorn in his flesh” (2 Cor 12:7) in order to prevent him from becoming conceited because of his powerful experiences and revelations from God.
(3) God has often some better thing in store for us than would be the immediate answer to our prayer Who can doubt that this was true of Paul? It is true, also, that where things are in themselves proper to be asked, Christians sometimes ask them in an improper manner, and this is one of the reasons why many of their prayers are not answered. Grotius has collected several similar passages from the classic writers which may serve to illustrate this expression.
It is not imparted to those who feel that they are strong and who do not realize their need of divine aid. (i) That I might feel the power of Christ more and more: for the weaker that our tabernacles are, the more does Christ's power appear in them.Rev., correctly, He hath said. It is one of the instances in which the fervent prayer of a good man, offered undoubtedly in faith, was not answered in the form in which he desired, though substantially answered in the assurance of grace sufficient to support him.
But who can tell what will be his character and destiny should he live to be a man? He would have us rely on him alone.
2 Corinthians 12:9.
Who can tell what is best for himself? The infliction was not indeed removed; but there was a promise that the favor of Christ would be shown to him constantly, and that he would find his support to be ample. 2 Corinthians 12:9 God made a wonderful promise to Paul; and God makes the same promise to all of his (God’s) people. Paul speaks in these verses of his own weakness and his thorn in the flesh.
Breaking Down the Key Parts of 2 Corinthians 12:9 #1 “But he said to me,” God’s Word to the Apostle Paul was authoritative and inspired Paul to write infallible Scripture. 2 Corinthians 12:9. The favor of the Redeemer is more than a compensation for all that we endure in his cause.
The sense is, that the power which Christ manifested to his people rested with them, or abode with them in their trials, and therefore he would rejoice in afflictions, in order that he might partake of the aid and consolation thus imparted. At the same time it may be better for the child that he should be removed. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
The simple verb σκηνόω to dwell in a tent is used by John, especially in Revelation. When a parent prays with great earnestness and with insubmission for the life of a child, he knows not what he is doing. 2 Corinthians 12:9, KJV: "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. (2) the Christian is a gainer by trial.
So that Paul instead of desiring the infirmity to "depart," "rather" henceforth "glories in infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest (Greek, 'tabernacle upon,' cover my infirmity all over as with a tabernacle; compare Greek, Joh 1:12) upon" him. It is a matter of fact that not all the prayers even of the pious, and of those who pray having faith in God as a hearer of prayer, are literally answered. It was the design of God to humble Paul; and this could be much better accomplished by continuing his affliction and by imparting the promised grace, than by withdrawing the affliction and withholding the grace. Just as Gideon was deprived of the troops for a human victory over Israel’s enemies (Ju 7), God would deprive us of anything in ourselves that would boast of our own might in the life God has called us to.Rather than be upset with God, Paul used the opportunity to praise God and boast in Christ alone (1 Cor 1:31). His presence and imparted strength are more than a compensation for all the trials that Iendure.That the power of Christ - The strength which Christ imparts; his power manifested in supporting me in trials.May rest upon me - ἐπισκηνώσῃ episkēnōsē. The Quietness of True Power.