In chapters 10-13 in 2 Corinthians Paul is defending his authority as an apostle and the work that he had done with the people in Corinth. The church in Corinth had been infiltrated by what Paul sarcastically named “super apostles”. The Corinthians accepted these “super apostles” who were deceiving and taking advantage of them. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:18-21,
“And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too. After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that!”
These false apostles had been boasting about their so called “achievements” to prove that they had authority. In 2 Corinthians 10:12 Paul says,
“Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!”
These fake apostle’s only standard of measurement was each other. Pauls standard of measurement is Jesus and what he said. Jesus said in John 15: 20-21,
“Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.”
This is important because Paul is about to prove that he has been called by God by what he has suffered and endured for the sake of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 11: 21-27 Paul says,
“But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.”
And then he says in verses 28-33
“Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me. I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.”
Paul is saying that his weakness is displayed in his deep care and concern for the people as well as what he has suffered in obedience to Christ. This is considered weakness compared to the “strength” of the “super apostles” who take advantage of the people by trickery. This weakness Paul is boasting about is not the weakness that most people relate to this passage.
Then in chapter 12 Paul goes on and talks about visions and revelations he had from the Lord. How he, in the body or out of the body was in the third heaven in paradise and saw things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell. Paul continues in verse 5-7 and says,
“That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.”
Paul has these epic encounters, visions and revelations from God and to keep him from becoming proud he was given a thorn in his flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment him. Then in verses 8-10 Paul says,
“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Paul says that he takes pleasure in his weaknesses, and to better understand his perspective of weakness we need only to look at the list that follows. Pauls said, “That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ,” These are the things he takes pleasure in. This weakness is in line with his obedience, trust and faith that is proved through his actions. They are proved through enduring these sufferings one day and then getting up the next morning to do it again. It’s this weakness of obedience by dependence that results in the strength and power to relentlessly pursue his call in God. This weakness isn’t about his inability, or lack of training or understanding.
When Paul talks about his weakness he’s not talking about being ignorant. In 2 Corinthians 11: 5-6 he says,
“But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things. I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.”
When Paul talks about his weakness he is not talking about being a slave to fear or sin or bitterness. In 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul says,
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
It’s also very important to note that Paul was given a thorn in his flesh, Paul was, not me and probably not you. This thorn was given to him not because of what he didn’t know, or didn’t have, or hadn’t experienced or understood. It was given to him because of what he knew, because of what he had seen, because of what he had experienced. He was given the thorn because of his overflowing abundance. Not for his lack thereof.
The point is this, that when we look at the whole context of boasting in our weakness, Paul’s weakness results in God’s strength which is proved through his actions. Paul boasts in his weakness that is empowered by God and then follows it up with a list of achievements. Paul said, “For when I am weak, then I am strong,” that strength is proved through his actions. That strength is proved through his endurance, and hardships.
People keep saying, “you need to depend on God,” Paul’s saying, I do depend on God and I prove it by my actions. The first person is trying to convince others and probably themselves, while Paul is already convinced and is fueled by the reality. The first person is standing on the edge of the pool, while Paul already jumped in. If you are in the water you don’t need someone to keep trying to convince you to get in, because you are already in. When you get past the point of jumping in and are in the water, you must now focus on doing the things you came to do in the pool. That focus is on identity, purpose and vision. Focus on what you came to do and leave the edge of the pool for all time. Prove with your life that you are strengthened and empowered by God.