What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 12:1? I must go on boasting “ I must go on boasting ” (2 Corinthians 12:1a) • Paul speaks with reluctant irony. His adversaries in Corinth measure authority by flash and credentials; to defend the gospel, he feels “forced” to answer in the same category (see 2 Corinthians 11:16–18). • Earlier he made clear that true boasting centers on the Lord, not self (2 Corinthians 10:17; cf. Jeremiah 9:23–24). His own résumé—hardships, weaknesses, persecutions—actually magnifies Christ’s power (2 Corinthians 11:23–30). • By starting with “I must,” Paul signals pastoral necessity, not personal desire. His aim is the church’s protection, much like his previous defense in Galatians 6:14 where he boasts only “in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Although there is nothing to gain “ Although there is nothing to gain ” (2 Corinthians 12:1b) • Spiritual profit never comes from self-exaltation (Philippians 2:3). Paul counts personal acclaim as “loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ” (Philippians 3:7–8). • Any “gain” that lacks eternal value evaporates (Matthew 16:26). Paul has already warned the Corinthians that human applause is empty (1 Corinthians 3:21). • The phrase underlines his humility: what follows is not a bid for admiration but a testimony meant to build faith (Romans 1:11–12). I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord “ I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord ” (2 Corinthians 12:1c) • Paul now recounts God-given experiences, not to elevate himself but to validate his divine commission. Luke records several such moments—his Damascus-road encounter (Acts 9:3–6), the Macedonian vision (Acts 16:9), and the encouragement at Corinth itself (Acts 18:9–10). • “Visions” refer to what Paul saw; “revelations” to what he heard or understood. Both come “from the Lord,” anchoring them in divine initiative (Galatians 1:12; Ephesians 3:3). • The authenticity of these revelations is confirmed by: – Their Christ-centered content (Revelation 19:10). – Their harmony with prior Scripture (Acts 26:22). – Their fruit—strengthening churches and spreading the gospel (1 Corinthians 14:26). • Paul will soon describe being caught up “to the third heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:2–4) yet will quickly return to his “thorn in the flesh” (v. 7), proving that genuine revelation fosters humility, not pride. • For believers today, the completed canon preserves God’s authoritative revelation (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Extraordinary experiences must always bow to the written Word. summary Paul reluctantly “boasts” because false teachers forced the issue. He reminds the Corinthians that self-promotion is empty, yet he must share his God-given visions to demonstrate his true apostleship. Those revelations—rooted in Christ, aligned with Scripture, and producing spiritual fruit—show that authentic authority comes from the Lord, not human acclaim. |
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