2 Corinthians 12:1 – 13:1: Paul’s Defense of His Apostleship & His Conduct Toward the Corinthians Against the Accusations of False Prophets:

“It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory (boast, rejoice). I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 12:11 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

. The phrase “It is not expedient” translates two Greek words, one an absolute negative translated “not” (G3756) and the other “expedient” (G4851), which elsewhere is translated “profit, be profitable, bring together, be better, be good.” The word “doubtless” is translated from a Greek word used only six times in the New Testament (NT), and only here it is translated “doubtless.” In other passages it’s translated with four different English words; “also, now, and, therefore” while in Acts 13:22 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

it is not translated. The word translated “visions” (G3701) is found only 4 times in the NT always translated “vision,” meaning “a sight, an appearance.” The word “revelations” (G602) is found 18 times in the NT, translated “revelation/s” 12 times, “be revealed: twice,” “manifestation” once, “coming” once and “appearing” once. The last time Revelation is used is in the NT is; “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, etc.” It means “unveiling, uncovering of facts and truths, disclosure, appearing, manifestation.” Thus, the book of Revelation relates all the facts and circumstances and judgements attending the Second Coming, or Revelation, or Appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, verse 1 can be understood as Paul stating it was not profitable therefore for him to glory. He will come to visions/appearances and revelations/manifestations of the Lord. This verse must be considered as a continuation and in the context of chapter 11 where he talked about the false Hebrew prophets who had gone amongst the Corinthians attempting to influence them against Paul. In vindication of himself and to keep the Corinthians from being carried away with their insinuations, Paul had to prove the legitimacy of his Apostleship. However, in doing so, he admits the weakness of his flesh, as the last verse of the 11th chapter records him having to be hidden in a basket and lowered from a window of the wall of the City of Damascus to avoid being apprehended by the Governor of Damascus, a very demeaning incident demonstrating his weakness, 2 Corinthians 11:32 - 3332 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

. Paul understood that his talk of visions and revelations from the Lord might stir up pride, vanity and elation of mind in him and be interpreted by others as proud boasting and vain glory as he writes, "neither have I need to glory, nor is it expedient for me: I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord." But on the other hand, Paul had much to glory in what The Lord Jesus Christ had done to and through him, having appeared to him face to face and revealed truths that had not been and would not be revealed to anyone else:

• Beginning with his conversion on the road to Damascus when the Lord appeared to him personally.
• While in the City of Troas a man from Macedonia, which was across the sea from Troas, appeared to Paul in a vision and asked him to come over and help them.
• When at Corinth the Lord spoke to him by a vision, and bid him not to be afraid, but go on preaching the Gospel, because He had many people there to be saved through Paul’s ministry.
• The Lord Jesus Christ revealed exclusively to him the Gospel of the Grace of God that had been a secret throughout the history of mankind. Some of the particular doctrines of that Gospel are:
• The calling of the Gentiles into The Body of Christ consisting of both Jews and Gentiles.
• The Rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ.
• The extraordinary way Paul was directed to go from place to place, as at the time he went up to Jerusalem by "revelation", where he was to suffer many things for the sake of Christ.

Whereas the 12 Apostles and Disciples lived with Jesus Christ on earth, witnessing His miracles, signs and wonders as recorded in the Gospel narratives, the last they saw and experienced Him was when He ascended into heaven. Then, those Disciples with other Jewish believers stayed in Jerusalem where they were blessed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit as recorded in the first few chapters of Acts. However, they died off as Israel’s leaders rejected their testimony.

Other than John who was one of the 12 Apostles and who wrote that he “was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,” Revelation 1:1010 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

, the only man the Lord Jesus Christ actually appeared to from heaven was Saul, later ordained the Apostle Paul:

“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.” 2 Corinthians 12:2 - 52 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

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In 2 Corinthians 12:66 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

Paul writes that even if he had a mind to glory, he would not be a fool even if thought of by others as such, because he is writing what is strictly true in the account of himself in the previous chapter and appeals to God as his witness, less any should take him more than human as before this the Lycaonians at Lystra had done, Acts 14:11 - 1411 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

. (John Gill’s Commentary.) Paul then reveals how the Lord kept him humble and totally dependent upon His power:

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7 - 107 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

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Then in 2 Corinthians 12:1111 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

Paul writes that the Corinthians had compelled him to glory in his Apostleship and should have stood with or commended him in spite of his fleshly weakness because he stood ahead of the Chief Apostles, apparently referring to Christ’s 12 Kingdom Apostles. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” 2 Corinthians 12:1212 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

. (Paul’s miracles/signs/wonders recorded in the book of Acts are documented in Faith Study Vol 4, No 28.

In 2 Corinthians 12:1313 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

Paul sarcastically implores the Corinthians to forgive him for wronging them for not being a burden financially to them (because he supported himself by working with his hands while ministering to them) and points out that he had received treatment the same as the other churches to whom he ministered. He goes on in 2 Corinthians 12:1414 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

to inform that he was ready to visit them a 3rd time and he would not burden them when he did because the children should not lay-up or supply treasure for the parents but the parents for the children. This referring to the fact they had been saved through his ministry (they were his sons and daughters in the Lord). And that he will gladly spend himself financially and physically for them because of his love for them even though they loved him less, 2 Corinthians 12:1515 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

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2 Corinthians 12:16 - 1716 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

: “But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?” In these two verses Paul exposes the accusations by the false prophets who had gone among the Corinthians made against Paul that he had been crafty/shrewd using guile or trickery/deceit to try to fool them into believing he had not profited by their largess, now had he done so by any of those he had sent to them. Then in the next verse he uses Titus as an example of one of his associates he had sent to minister to them, indicating they had both acted the same among them in not taking any support from them: “I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?” .

In Paul informs them that he was not making excuses but that everything he did was for their edifying, i.e., for building them up and he does this before God in Christ. This because he feared that when he did come to them again he might find them as they should be and they would not find him as he claimed he was, which would result in debating, anger, wrath with attendant backbiting and arguments, . “And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.” 2 Corinthians 12:2121 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

. In other words, when he returned to them this time he did not want to find that those who had sinned even after they had become true believers, as described in 1st Corinthians, had not changed their ways.

“This is the third time (note the word time is in parenthesis so is not in the original manuscripts) I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” 2 Corinthians 12:1. In his Commentary, John Gill interprets this verse as Paul indicating his first visit to Corinth was when he actually visited there and preached (at which time they came to believe the Gospel), Acts 18:11 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

. The second time he “came to them” was when he sent them 1st Corinthians, (see 1 Corinthians 5:33 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

). Then, he counts 2nd Corinthians as the 3rd time he “came to them.”