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"If to boast is needful," adds the apostle, "in the things that concern my weakness will
I boast," and then he recounts his ignominious escape from Damascus. This event seems
to have impressed itself upon his mind, for his gives this special prominence, after
mentioning the long list of perils and sufferings encountered afterwards.
B (II Cor. xii. 1-11).--The apostle now turns to the visions and revelations which he
received, and here, once again, suffering was an inevitable result:--
"On behalf of myself will I not boast, save in my weakness. . . . but I forbear, lest
anyone should reckon unto me above what he beholdeth me to be, or heareth from me,
even by the exceeding greatness of the revelations. Wherefore, lest I should be unduly
lifted up, there was given to me a stake in the flesh, a messenger of satan that he might
buffet me. . . . most gladly, therefore, will I boast in my weakness, that the power of
Christ may spread a tent over me. wherefore, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in
necessities, in persecutions, in pressure of circumstances, for Christ's sake, for when I am
weak, then am I strong. I have become foolish, ye compelled me. I, in fact, ought by you
to have been commended" (II Cor. xii. 5-11).
A (II Cor. xii. 11, 12).--
"For not a whit have I become behind the extra-super apostles; even if I am nothing.
. . . the signs indeed of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, both in
signs, and wonders, and in mighty works" (II Cor. xii. 11, 12).
In connection with his claim to be "an ambassador for Christ," we find the same
undercurrent of opposition:--
"In everything commending ourselves as God's ministers, in much endurance, in
tribulations, in necessities, in pressure of circumstances, in stripes, in imprisonments, in
tumults, in toilings, in spells of sleeplessness, in fastings, in sanctity, in knowledge, in
long suffering, in kindness, in holy spirit, in love unfeigned, in the word of truth, in the
power of God; through the armour of righteousness on the right hand and left, through
glory and dishonour, through ill report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true, as
being ignored, and yet recognised, as dying, and behold we live; as being chastened, yet
not being slain, as grieving, yet ever rejoicing, as destitute, yet making many rich, as
having nothing, yet as having all things in full possession" (II Cor. vi. 4-10).
The apostle appeals to this outburst of feeling to show how indeed his mouth and his
heart are opened and enlarged towards them, and urges them to give up the narrow
jealousies, "straitened in their hearts' affections" (II Cor. vi. 12), to dissolve their
unseemly unity with darkness and infidels, and, perfecting holiness in the fear of the
Lord, let them "receive us, for no one have we wronged, no one have we corrupted, no
one have we defrauded." All such are black calumnies, not repeated here to condemn,
"for I have already told you that ye are in our heart to live and die together"
(II Cor. vi. 13 - vii. 3).
Ever before the apostle is the desire to vindicate the sacred office which he held, and
the truth committed unto him, yet at the same time to count himself as nothing. He was a
chosen vessel, but an earthen vessel too. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that
the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves." Weak in
themselves, yet strong in the Lord, on every side:--