2 Coríntios 12
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Coríntios 12
Wiersbe - The Lord knows how to balance our lives. If we have only blessings, we may become proud; so He permits us to have burdens as well....When you walk along the shore of the ocean, you notice that the rocks are sharp in the quiet coves, but polished in those places where the waves beat against them. God can use the "waves and billows" of life to polish us, if we will let Him. Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations (apokalupsis) - Paul acknowledge the magnitude of the visions using the rare noun surpassing (huperbole), the same word he had used earlier to describe the "surpassing greatness of the power" in himself as a mere "clay jar" (2Co 4:7NET) and then the future "eternal weight of glory (as) far beyond all comparison (huperbole eis huperbole)." (2Co 4:17+) THOUGHT - "Mountain top" experiences spiritually speaking are not infrequently followed by "thorns in the flesh" so to speak, these "thorns" being allowed/sent in order to keep us humble and destroy our tendency to exalt self! Been there, done that, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, and many of you probably said a soft "Amen," for you too have experience "divine thorns." R. J. Reid echoes the preceding thought - “A man in Christ” is safe in the presence of God as he listens to the untranslatable things spoken in paradise, but he needs “a thorn in the flesh” upon his return to earth, for the flesh in him would boast of his paradise experience. For this reason - Because of the wonder and preeminence of what God had revealed to him in Paradise! To keep me from exalting myself - To keep him from being puffed up or getting a "big head" as we might say today. Paul knew his fallen flesh would love to take some credit for those revelations so that he would look better in the eyes of others. Paul did not want to entertain the thought of an undue sense of self-importance. Fallen flesh (which Paul had just as we all have!) always seeks to proudly elevate the "big I" at the expense of giving glory to the only "I Am!" THOUGHT - Do not miss the "point" (pun intended) that even the greatest spiritual experiences have absolutely ability to destroy our intractably prideful flesh. My flesh is as depraved and dangerous today as it was 36 years ago when I was saved.
2 Coríntios 12:9
Wiersbe - God did not give Paul any explanations; instead, He gave him a promise: "My grace is sufficient for thee." We do not live on explanations; we live on promises. Our feelings change, but God's promises never change. Promises generate faith, and faith strengthens hope. Paul claimed God's promise and drew on the grace that was offered to him; this turned seeming tragedy into triumph. God did not change the situation by removing the affliction; He changed it by adding a new ingredient: grace. (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor) Remember that shortly after appearing to Paul on the Damascus Road, Christ explained Paul's call and the cost of that call to Ananias telling him to... Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake. (Acts 9:15, 16) Marvin
2 Coríntios 12:9
Wiersbe - God does not give us His grace simply that we might "endure" our sufferings. Even unconverted people can manifest great endurance. God's grace should enable us to rise above our circumstances and feelings and cause our afflictions to work for us in accomplishing positive good. God wants to build our character so that we are more like our Saviour. God's grace enabled Paul not only to accept his afflictions, but to glory (boast) in them. His suffering was not a tyrant that controlled him, but a servant that worked for him. (Ibid) Albert
2 Coríntios 12:9
Wiersbe - If God's grace is sufficient to save us, surely it is sufficient to keep us and strengthen us in our times of suffering. John MacArthur amplifies Wiersbe's thought observing that "When God declared to Paul in answer to his prayer, "My grace is sufficient for you," He affirmed the total sufficiency of His grace for every need in life—to believe the gospel; to understand and apply the Word to all the issues of life; to overcome sin and temptation; to endure suffering, disappointment, and pain; to obey God; to serve Him effectively; and to worship Him. God's grace was sufficient for the deepest pain Paul (or any other believer) could ever experience...If God's grace was "more than abundant" to save Paul (1Ti 1:14) (2 Corinthians. Chicago: Moody Press) (Bolding added for emphasis) William
2 Coríntios 12:9
Wiersbe comments that "Strength that knows itself to be strength is actually weakness, but weakness that knows itself to be weakness is actually strength." (Ed: Now try to explain that to a non-believer!) Weakness (769) (astheneia from a = without + sthénos = strength, bodily vigor) [see word studies on astheneo and asthenes] note the concentration of this word group [astheneia/asthenes/astheneo] is in the Corinthian epistles... probably because of the proud Greek culture) means literally without strength or bodily vigor. Strengthlessness! It is the state of incapacity or limited capacity to do something. Although Paul could be referring to literal physical weakness, the alternative sense could be reference to figurative weakness as in one's spiritual life (e.g., weak flesh, weak conscience, weak religious system or commandment [Gal 4:9, Heb 7:18, 28], etc) and the powerlessness to produce results. Astheneia - 24x in 23v in the NT - Mt. 8:17; Lk. 5:15; 8:2; 13:11, 12; Jn. 5:5; 11:4; Acts 28:9; Ro 6:19; 8:26; 1Co 2:3; 15:43; 2Co. 11:30; 12:5, 9, 10; 13:4; Ga 4:13; 1Ti 5:23; He 4:15; 5:2; 7:28; 11:34. The NAS renders astheneia as -- ailments(1), diseases(1), illness(1), infirmities(1), sickness(4), sicknesses(2),weak(1), weakness(8), weaknesses(4), what weakness(1). In his first epistle Paul had alluded to his weaknesses, insults, distresses and persecutions (as if to prepare his readers for the great principle in 2Cor 12:9,10)... We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now. (1Co 4:10, 11, 12, 13) A similar parallel or association is seen between man's weakness and the manifestation of God in these passages... But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves (see 2Co 4:7NLT) I was with you in weakness (astheneia) and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power (dunamis), (1 Co 2:3, 4). Comment: Note that here instead of grace associated with power, the Holy Spirit is associated with power, so even thought the Spirit of Christ is not mentioned here in 2Cor 12:9, He is certainly the divine Agent Who enables us and thus makes us sufficient, cp Acts 1:8, 2Cor 3:5, 6. Critical and Exegetical Hand-book to the Epistles to the Corinthians (H. Meyer, et al) - "The emphasis lies on dunamis: "Thou hast enough in my grace; for I am not weak and powerless, when there is suffering weakness on the part of the man to whom I am gracious, but exactly under these circumstances are my power and strength brought to perfection, i.e., effective in full measure." Then namely, the divine dunamis of Christ has unhindered scope, not disturbed or limited by any admixture of selfish striving and working. (Online Reference) Matthew
2 Coríntios 12:9
Wiersbe - The word translated rest means "to spread a tent over." Paul saw his body as a frail tent (2Cor 5:1ff), but the glory of God had come into that tent and transformed it into a holy tabernacle. A T
2 Coríntios 12:10
Wiersbe writes… God has to balance privileges with responsibilities, blessings with burdens, or else you and I will become spoiled, pampered children. (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor) Strong (1415) (dunatos [word study] from dunamai [word study] = referring to power one has by virtue of inherent ability and resources; see also word study of dunamis) means powerful, able, strong. TDNT notes that all words deriving from the stem duna- have the basic meaning of “being able,” of “capacity” in virtue of an ability) pertains to being capable, able (having the ability to perform some function; having sufficient power, skill, or resources to accomplish an objective), adept (highly skilled or well-trained implying aptitude as well as proficiency) or competent (being what is necessary; having requisite or adequate ability or qualities). Our weakness as believers is like a live drama on stage before a watching world (an example to both believers and unbelievers alike), where our weakness becomes the occasion for the manifestation of Christ's power, our inadequacy for His adequacy, our poverty for His riches, our inarticulation for His articulation, our tentativeness for His confidence. Indeed, when we are weak (as in Ro 8:36-note), we prove ourselves in all these things to be more than conquerors through Christ Who loved us (Ro 8:37NIV-note) and Christ our Lord receives the glory (Ro 11:36-note, Ps 115:1-note) Charles Hodge writes that… When we are really weak in ourselves and are conscious of that weakness, we are in the state suited to the manifestation of God’s power. When we are emptied of ourselves, we are filled with God. Those who think they can change their own hearts, atone for their own sins, subdue the power of evil in their own souls or in the souls of others, who feel able to sustain themselves under affliction, God leaves to their own resources. But when they feel and acknowledge their weakness, He imparts divine strength to them. Gingrich comments that… If Christ is glorified in our afflictions, we ought not only to be resigned to them but also to rejoice because of them and to thank God for them. (Gingrich, R. E.. The Book of 2 Corinthians. Memphis, TN.: Riverside Printing) Matthew