Monday, December 5, 2022

Reading for December 13th

 Read 2 Corinthians 12.1-13. In verses 1-10: Experiencing visions and revelations of the Lord. In verse 1: Paul now moves to a different order of boasting. In verse 2: The person in Christ is surely Paul himself. Fourteen years ago would put it shortly after his conversion, probably in the 30's. In verse 3: The language suggests an ecstatic experience., in which he was taken out of the body. In verse 4: Paradise is where God dwells (Lk 23.43; Rev 2.7). Hearing unrepeatable things describes the revelations in greater detail (v. 1). What he saw is emphasized less. In verse 5: Such an experience enabled Paul to distinguish his ordinary self from the caught up into heaven. In verses 6-7: In talking about such experiences, less is better. In verse 7: What is thorn in the flesh was no one knows, though many guesses have been made. Messenger of Satan is literally "angel of Satan." In verse 8: The Lord can be either God (1.2) or Christ (13.14). In verse 9: Power of Christ: Christ transmits the  power he experienced in the resurrection (4.11; 1 Cor 6.14). In verse 10: Weak ... strong expresses the paradox of the cross (1 Cor 1.25). In verses 11-13: Concluding the fool's speech. In verse 11: Super apostles: 11.5. I am nothing: again Paul speaks sarcastically, mimicking the  opponents (10.7). In verse 12: Paul occasionally refers to his wonder-working ability (Rom 15.19) It is developed much more fully in Acts. In verse 13: Their argument could have run: You were much closer to Philippi, they supported you financially (Phil 4.15). Comments or Questions ..

No comments: