II Corinthians 10:3. What does “walk in the flesh” mean here?
Here he is simply speaking of our human existence, whereas before he meant being totally controlled by carnal thinking. The flesh is with us here always, and although it has no good thing originating from it, it can be controlled by the Spirit and used for good purposes.
II Corinthians 11 and 12. Why does Paul feel compelled to do what normally should not be done: Compare himself to others, and “boast”?
In 11:13 and 19 we find two of the main reasons: False people who claimed to be apostles, and were not. Coupled with their toleration of evil, their utter lack of discernment, their willingness to go along with anything that felt good at the moment. He was so terrified of these evil influences and their corruptive power, that he was willing to take a chance of being considered proud and self-serving. It’s not something we want to model under any other circumstances. But see here the heart of this man!
II Corinthians 11:23. Insane?
He uses an extreme term here, not in seriousness, but now he actually is telling his sheep that he is a better shepherd and more worthy to be followed. Though he seems vain to the point of “insanity”, they must believe him or else…
II Corinthians 12:2. Who might this man be?
It is almost universally accepted that Paul here speaks of himself. That is, the self he is really happy with, the self that is so crucified that it is caught up in Jesus fully, so that in reality he speaks not of Paul at all! He had absolutely nothing to do with this vision. It was God from beginning to end. About this man, I can talk freely.
II Corinthians 12:7, 21. What do we know for sure about Paul’s thorn?
It was directly from Satan, but with God’s full permission, as is the way God often works with his men.
It was a tormenting “buffeting” experience.
It happened in public.
It was an event, therefore, not a condition.
It was horribly humiliating.
Do all men need this humility when face to face with such heavenly realities? Probably. Yet we hear of casual encounters with Heaven on many Christian TV shows. We never hear about a resultant thorn to follow, and in fact we often see book sales go through the roof, and riches and glory following such a man.
I believe Paul’s thorn was something akin to epilepsy. You see in verse 21 the trepidation Paul has regarding his upcoming visit to Corinth. He thinks God might just humiliate him again. It is true this could be the humiliation of tears in connection with sins they have committed, but coupled with his original description of the thorn, I think it is possible that he had the “falling sickness”, a disease Jesus and others had cast out in the power of God, but which would be allowed to remain with this saint, perhaps until his dying day.
It is a humiliating sickness, to be sure. And it can come on at any time, causing the victim to lose control, then be so ashamed later. I know, because from age 14 until my 30’s, I had this disease myself. It was a physical thing, and through prayer I was set free from it. It looks like perhaps Paul was not.
II Corinthians 12:12. What can true apostles do?
Signs, wonders, miracles. I’m not talking here about praying for the sick and seeing them healed. Elders in the church should be able to do that, along with many others who trust God’s Word. I’m speaking of deliberate laying on of hands and expecting an immediate miracle then and there. If you can’t do that sir, perhaps you should not call yourself an apostle of Christ in the same sense Paul was. How else will we know which men are in this holy office?
Now do you know someone who does this? All the time? Not 10% or 50%, but 100%? That was Jesus’ record, and that was what the apostles of the first century expected. No blaming “lack of faith”, please. Look at the record. The power was present and it healed. Period.
II Corinthians 12:16. Deceit from Paul? Explain.
Oh no. Not deceit. But he imagines that that is what they think. About what? He claims here and elsewhere to love them freely and never take money from them, always to be working on their behalf, not his own.
Then he shows up via Titus and others, asking for an offering!
He denies such actions in verse 18. No one is trying to take advantage of you. Then he launches into a warning about what might be happening when he does come in person and has to deal with some of those who are not walking in the Light.
II Corinthians 13:5. How “fail the test”?
That’s the NASB rendering. KJV has it “reprobate.” That may not say it all either. The Greek is the word that means “unapproved” or “rejected” or “worthless.” A serious word, to be applied to those who take the test and fail it. How does this happen. Is not Jesus Christ in you? Not if you are rejected. I think the implication is, that He never was in you. That is why he begs the church at large and individual members thereof, to take a test. If Christ is not in you, do what you can to be sure that that sad state of affairs is corrected!
They wanted Paul to be tested. They wanted to know if he was for real. Paul says, examine yourselves, while you are at it. Look at the fruit you are producing. Does it look like Jesus? Are you really one of His?
Of course, when they examine themselves closely, and see Jesus, they will also recognize Paul, the one who brought them to this place in their lives.
II Corinthians 13:7. How could they be approved and Paul not seem to be?
If indeed they take the test and come out as belonging to Jesus, Paul will not have to use his apostolic power against them. Therefore some of them may doubt that he has such power, and think he is not passing the test. That’s OK with Paul, as long as they are sure that their salvation is real.
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