Study 12 From The Book of 2 Corinthians Is: 2
Corinthians 11:21b – 12:10
1. Follow Paul through the
experiences which he describes. In particular let your imagination dwell clause
by clause on the list of sufferings in verses 23-29. Why do you think Paul felt
it necessary to ‘boast’ of His experiences?
2. Why did Paul believe he had
been given the ‘thorn in the flesh’?
What did Paul do about this ‘thorn and with what result? Notice the force of the present tense in the
Lord’s reply. What lessons did Paul learn that changed his whole attitude to
trial? Have we begun to understand these things? Cf. Rom. 5:3-5; 1 Peter 4:14.
Notes.
1. 12:5. Paul contrasts himself,
as a passive recipient of divine revelations, with himself to other capacities.
2. 12:7. The ‘thorn in the flesh’
seems to have been severe bodily suffering of some kind, but its exact nature
is not disclosed.
3. 12:9. ‘He said’: better, as in
Rv, ‘He hath said’—a word of abiding application.
