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2 Corinthians 12:2-10
 | Reading the Text:
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| Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
 | Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of
Spirit:
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|
Vision III.3, Shepherd
of
Hermas.
(c.145) |
|
II.XXX.7,
III.XX.1,
V.II.3,
V.III.1,
V.V.1, Adversus
Haereses,
Irenaeus of Lyons.
(c. 180) |
|
Chapter XXIV,
The Prescription of Heretics,
Tertullian (c.
200) |
|
II.3, On
The Apparel of Women,
Tertullian (c.
202) |
|
I.14,
I.29, Against
Marcion,
Tertullian
(c. 207) |
|
Chapter IX, On
the Soul,
Tertullian
(c. 210) |
|
Chapter
IX,
Chapter
XLVII, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,
Tertullian
(c. 211) |
|
V.12, Against
Marcion,
Tertullian
(c. 212) |
|
Concerning
Flight in Persecution (paragraph 2)
Tertullian (c.
212) |
|
Chapter
XIII, Scorpiace,
Tertullian
(c. 213) |
|
Chapter
XIII, On Modesty,
Tertullian
(c. 217) |
|
II.VII.4, First
Principles (De Principiis),
Origen.
(c.225) |
|
V.III,
VII.XIV,
The
Refutation of all Heresies (Philosophumena),
Hippolytus of Rome.
(c. 225) |
|
I.XLVIII,
VI.VI,
VII.XLIII, Against
Celsus,
Origen (c. 246) |
|
On the
Mortality --
Cyprian of
Carthage (c. 252) |
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III.24,
VII.25,
Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius of Caesarea (c 320). |
|
The
Vision of Paul (c 350?) |
| From the Geneva Notes.
 | "He concludes that he will
only set his miseries against the vain braggings of the false
apostles, and with this also excuses himself, because by their
troublesome braggings he was forced to speak as much of those things
as he did. That is, because if his apostleship were subverted, his
doctrine would necessarily fall." |
|
| From
Matthew Henry's
Commentary.
| "Troubles are sent to teach us
to pray; and are continued, to teach us to continue instant in
prayer. Though God accepts the prayer of faith, yet he does not
always give what is asked for: as he sometimes grants in wrath, so
he sometimes denies in love." |
|
| From
Wesley's Notes.
| "We see there may be grace
where there is the quickest sense of pain." |
|
| From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "to buffet me--In Greek,
present: to buffet me even now continuously. After experiencing
the state of the blissful angels, he is now exposed to the influence
of an evil angel. The chastisement from hell follows soon upon the
revelation from heaven. As his sight and hearing had
been ravished with heavenly "revelations," so his touch
is pained with the "thorn in the flesh."" |
|
| From The People's
New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
| "The Lord answered his prayer,
not by removing the thorn, but by giving grace to bear it, and by
the assurance that Paul's sense of weakness, caused by it, fitted
him to receive the divine strength." |
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|
| Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
|
"The
Gospel of our Weakness," guest essay by Dan Lewis.
The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with
Jesus Foundation.
| "In a
contemporary culture that stresses personal autonomy and social
advancement—even in a Christian sub-culture that at times succumbs to the
siren song of political clout—we should more directly conform our mindset
to the gospel of our weakness." |
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"First
Thoughts on Passages on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary:
Pentecost 5," William
Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
| "He was a strange man, a world apart
from us, but his issues remain just as relevant today. The struggle is
still on." |
|
|
Comments
(commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
"Power Made Perfect in Weakness," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at)
"Suffering," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian
Ethics at Baylor University, 2005. |
|
2 Corinthians 12:7-12, Pentecost: Paul the Pastor in 2 Corinthians,
David Fredrickson, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther
Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1991. |
|
"Paul's
Humiliation," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible
Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed
textual notes. |
| "Trouble
Arising," analysis and reflections by Ed Schroeder, at Sabbatheology by
The
Crossings Community of St Louis, Missouri.
| "All three pericopes for July 6,
1997, the 7th Sunday after Pentecost in the Revised Common Lectionary are about trouble,
trouble arising from one's call to be God's prophet (Ezekiel), God's Messiah and his
disciples (prophets without honor at home), and God's apostle (Paul)." |
|
|
"Principles
of Christian Suffering (Outline)," Thomas F. Fischer, Ministry
Health. |
| A B-Greek discussion on
2 Corinthians 12:7.
Follow "next in thread." |
|
| Articles & Background:
|
"Holy Men and
Their Sky-Journeys: A Cross-Cultural Model," John J. Pilch, Biblical
Theology Bulletin, 2005.
| "Insights from cultural anthropology, a science that
compares cultures, and cognitive neuroscience, a discipline that deals with
the one thing that all human beings have had in common for millennia: the
human body, contribute to the construction of a model for analyzing and
interpreting sky journeys made in alternate states of consciousness (ASCs)
and reported in ancient literature." |
|
|
"Declining with Grace," Robert C. and Elizabeth V. Roberts, (other
resources at)
"Aging," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian
Ethics at Baylor University, 2003.
| "Gratitude and generosity - two virtues that
acknowledge we are not all strength and independence, but also (and
very basically) weakness and dependency - prepare us for better
adjustment in situations of loss." |
|
|
"Power Made Perfect in Weakness," Rebecca Konynkyk DeYoung,
(other resources at)
"Suffering," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian
Ethics at Baylor University, 2005.
| "While our culture
may idolize strength in adversity and tough self-reliance, courage
has another side that many of us have not thought about much." |
|
|
"Witchcraft Accusations
in 2 Corinthians 10 - 13: Paul in Social Science Perspective," Jerome H.
Neyrey, S.J.
| "Although the word "witchcraft" may initially sound
disturbing, the model reveals typical mythological codes of perception,
and allows us to glimpse the inner social dynamics of a group which
employs such language and symbols." |
|
|
"Satan Talk in Corinth: the Rhetoric of Conflict," Lee A. Johnson,
Biblical Theology Bulletin, 1999.
| "...Paul's Satan talk is a phenomenon arising out of
social conflict over Paul's authority in Corinth, rather than a reflection
of Paul's cosmology." |
|
| "The
Fool's Speech and Its Context: Paul's Particular Way of Arguing in 2 Cor
10-13," Jan Lambrecht, Biblica, 2001.
| "Paul’s particular way of arguing in 2
Cor 10–13 is visible in the Fool’s Speech (11,22–12,10) as well as in its
context." |
|
|
"Pauline Voice and Presence as a Strategic Communication," Richard F.
Ward, Semeia 65: Orality and
Textuality in Early Christian Literature, 1994. |
|
"The 'Third Heaven',"
Douglas Ward, Voice
Bible Studies, Christian Resource Institute. |
|
"Without
Contemplation the People Perish," Walter J. Burghardt at The
Living Pulpit.
| "Prayer is a loving look at
the real." |
|
|
"The
Theologian," Paul Tillich, from The Shaking of the Foundations, 1955. At
Religion Online.
| "There is no synthesis possible
between God and the idols. In spite of the dangers inherent in so judging, the theologian
must become an instrument of the Divine Judgement against a distorted
world." |
|
|
"Spirituality
and the Avoidant Personality," L. Rebecca Propst, Lewis and
Clark College. Theology Today, 1992.
| "Dorothee Soelle in her
critique of post-Christian apathy states that we are so dominated by
the goal of avoiding suffering that we wall out the world and assume
we have a God who does the same. But pain can be good if it furthers
the process of its own abolition." |
|
|
"Il 'discorso del
pazzo' o periautologia immoderata? Analisi retorico-letteraria di 2 Cor
11,1–12,18," Antonio Pitta, Biblica, 2006. English
Abstract. (Scroll down to Fasc. 4.)
| "The main thesis of the section (2 Cor 11,5-6)
announces an apology of Paul’s superiority which will be proved not by
means of verbose or empty elocution but by the facts: gratuity in
evangelization, ministerial relationships with Christ, visions and
revelations, all of them balanced by means of a paradoxical boasting in
one’s own weakness." |
|
|
| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed and logged in to
ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
| Baird, William,
"Visions, Revelation, and Ministry: Reflections on 2 Cor 12:1-5 and Gal
1:11-17," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1985. |
| Barrier, Jeremy, "Visions of
Weakness: Apocalyptic Genre and the Identification of Paul's Opponents
in 2 Corinthians 12:1-6," Restoration Quarterly, 2005.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Bash, Anthony,
"A Psychodynamic Approach to the Interpretation of 2 Corinthians 10-13,"
Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2001. |
| Carl, William J., Jr.,
"Reflections on Joy," The Living Pulpit, 1996. (see
Joy issue focus of The Living Pulpit 5.4, 1996.) |
| Collins, Gerald,
"Power Made Perfect in Weakness: 2 Cor 12:9-10," Catholic Biblical
Quarterly, 1971. |
| Garland, David,
"Paul's Apostolic Authority: The Power of Christ Sustaining Weakness (2
Corinthians 10-13)," Review and Expositor, 1989. |
| Loubser, J.A.,
"Exegesis and Proclamation: Winning the Struggle (Or: How to Treat
Heretics)," Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, 1991. |
| Mickey, Paul A.,
"Strength in Weakness: From Text to Sermon on II Corinthians 12:7-9,"
Interpretation, 1968. |
| Peterson, Brian K.,
"Conquest, Control, and the Cross: Paul's Self-Portrayal in 2 Corinthians
10-13," Interpretation, 1998. |
| Smith, Neil Gregor,
"The Thorn that Stayed: An Exposition of II Corinthians 12:7-9,"
Interpretation, 1959. |
| Walton, Jon,
"2 Corinthians 12:1-10," Interpretation, 1998. |
| Ward, Richard F.,
"Pauline Voice and Presence as Strategic Communication," Semeia,
1994. |
| Welborn, L.L.,
"The Identification of 2 Corinthians 10-13 with the 'Letter of Tears,'"
Novum Testamentum, 1995. |
|
| Sermons:
|
"The
Gospel of Suffering," Dr. Jerry S. Maneker, Speak from the Heart.
| "We are to be vessels of God’s mercy,
thereby living out the Gospel of grace, faith, love, peace, and
inclusiveness. And especially, and most poignantly, it is frequently
through our suffering that this Gospel is best understood and best lived
out." |
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