The Bible Study Podcast, episode 727. Today, the Bible Study podcast continues the study of 2 Corinthians with chapter 12. Paul's vision and his thorn. You may remember with chapter 11, Paul started talking about the false

teachers who'd come, and one of the parts of his argument was that if we were going to boast,

he had more to boast about. But he ended that section there saying, if I have anything to boast,

I'll boast in my weakness. Because he's saying that his strength is really found in Christ

and what Christ has done not through what he has done. And he wants us to think that way personally also.

And so he is going to tell us a little more about his weakness in this section.

Chapter 12, I must go on boasting, although there is nothing to be gained.

I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

I know a man in Christ who, 14 years ago, was caught up in the third heaven.

Whether it was in the body or out of the body, I do not know. God knows.

I know that this man, whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know, but God knows,

was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted

to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself except about my

weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool because I would be speaking

the truth, but I refrain so that no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say,

or because of these surpassing great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming

conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,

a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me, but he said to me, my grace

is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me.

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.

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