What does 2 Corinthians 12:9 mean? - BibleRef.com

2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV: 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 ... ABOUT STATEMENTOFFAITH DONATE SUBSCRIBE WHAT'SNEW? BOOKSOFTHEBIBLE Home>2Corinthians>Chapter12>Verse9 2Corinthians12:9ParallelVerses[⇓Seecommentary⇓]2Corinthians12:9,NIV:Buthesaidtome,'Mygraceissufficientforyou,formypowerismadeperfectinweakness.'ThereforeIwillboastallthemoregladlyaboutmyweaknesses,sothatChrist'spowermayrestonme.2Corinthians12:9,ESV:Buthesaidtome,“Mygraceissufficientforyou,formypowerismadeperfectinweakness.”ThereforeIwillboastallthemoregladlyofmyweaknesses,sothatthepowerofChristmayrestuponme.2Corinthians12:9,KJV:Andhesaiduntome,Mygraceissufficientforthee:formystrengthismadeperfectinweakness.MostgladlythereforewillIrathergloryinmyinfirmities,thatthepowerofChristmayrestuponme.2Corinthians12:9,NASB:AndHehassaidtome,'Mygraceissufficientforyou,forpowerisperfectedinweakness.'Mostgladly,therefore,Iwillratherboastaboutmyweaknesses,sothatthepowerofChristmaydwellinme.2Corinthians12:9,NLT:Eachtimehesaid,'Mygraceisallyouneed.Mypowerworksbestinweakness.'SonowIamgladtoboastaboutmyweaknesses,sothatthepowerofChristcanworkthroughme.2Corinthians12:9,CSB:Buthesaidtome,"Mygraceissufficientforyou,formypowerisperfectedinweakness."Therefore,Iwillmostgladlyboastallthemoreaboutmyweaknesses,sothatChrist'spowermayresideinme. Whatdoes2Corinthians12:9mean?[⇑Seeversetext⇑] Fewliesareasattractive,andpoisonous,astheclaimthatfollowingGodisameanstoworldlysuccess(1Timothy6:3–5).TheBibleisunequivocalinteachingthatearthlylifecaninvolvehardship,evenforthosewhoarefaithful(John15:19;2Corinthians5:2–6).Jesus'explicitteachingwasthatChristiansshouldexpecthardships,awarningHegavespecificallytopreventdiscouragementinthefaceofhardtimes(John16:33).Liarswhoteachthatwealth,healing,prosperity,orotherbenefitsarewaitingforanyonewith"enough"faitharenotmerelyunspiritual—theyareunbiblical.Paul'sexperiencehereisamongScripture'smostpotentproofsthat"wordoffaith"andotherformsoftheprosperitygospelarefalse. PriorversesincludedPaul'sextraordinaryheavenlyexperience(2Corinthians12:1–3).Thismomentprovidedhimwithinsightshewasnotallowedtorevealtoothers(2Corinthians12:4).TopreventPaulfrombeingconceitedaboutthisknowledge,GodsentPaulanunspecified"thornintheflesh,"ora"stakeintheflesh."Scripturedoesn'texplainwhetherthiswassomethingphysical,emotional,orconnectedtosometemptation.Allittellsusisthatamanofprofoundfaithanddeepcommitmentwasstricken,causinghimtocryouttoGodrepeatedlyforrelief(2Corinthians12:7–8). Somehow,PaulcametounderstandGod'sanswertohisrequestwasaclearandpermanent"no."Aspriorversesindicated,Paulrealizedthepurposeofthemaladywastomaintainhumility.Thispersistent"weakness"inPaul'slifehelpedkeephimfrombecomingconceited. Instead,GodproclaimedthatHisgracewasfullycapableofprovidingeverythingPaulneededtoendurethissuffering.GodtoldPaulthatHispowerismadeperfectinweakness.TheGreekwordfor"sufficient"hereisarkei,whichimpliesendurance,strength,orsatisfaction.Paulhaswrittenthathewouldonlyboastinhisweaknesses(2Corinthians12:5),andnowheaddsenthusiasm.Hewillboastgladlyabouthisweaknesses,includingthisthornintheflesh. WhywouldsomeonelikePaulcelebratebeingforeversaddledwithsomepainfulstruggle?BecauseChrist'spowerbecomesmostobviousinthoseareaswherebelieversareweakest.Thewordtranslatedas"perfected"hereisteleitai,whichmostlyreferstocompletionoraccomplishment.Thefocusisonsomethingbeingachieved,nothavingflawsremoved.ThisisthesamerootwordusedbyChristwhendeclaring"itisfinished"fromthecross(John19:30). ThisrevealsseveraltruthsabouthowGodworksintheworldlylivesofChristians.First,GodiswillingtomakeuseofSatanandhisdemonstoaccomplishHisownpurposes.TheirattemptstoharassGod'sworkandservantscanbecomepartofGod'sstrategytoaccomplishHisexactgoals. Second,God'sanswerstoprayerarealwayssubjecttoHisoverallwill.Hemayanswer"no"toarequesttorelieveabeliever'sburden,whetherornotthatburdencomesfromademonicsource.IfthesufferingishelpingaChristiantobemoredependentonGod,itmaybeaccomplishinginusexactlywhatHewants. Third,itshowsusthatGod'sprimaryconcernforHischildrenisnotamortallifeofeaseandleisure.HisfirstgoalisthatwetrustHim.ThatmeansallowingChristtobestronginplacesweareweak,andnottoresentHimforallowingustoexperiencethatweakness. SEARCH ExploreaBook BookSummaries TheGospel BibleRef.comisaministryof WHAT'SNEW? SEARCH BOOKSOFTHEBIBLE ABOUT STATEMENTOFFAITH CONTACT SUBSCRIBE www.BibleRef.com  |  Sitemap   |  Passages THEHOLYBIBLE,NEWINTERNATIONAL VERSION®,NIV®Copyright©1973,1978,1984,2011byBiblica®. TheHolyBible,NewLivingTranslation,Copyright©1996,2004,2007.Usedbypermission ofTyndaleHousePublishers,Inc.CarolStream,Illinois60188. TheHolyBible,EnglishStandardVersion®Copyright©2001byCrosswayBibles,a publishingministryofGoodNewsPublishers. NewAmericanStandardBibleCopyright©1960-2020byTheLockmanFoundation. HolmanChristianStandardBible®,Copyright©1999,2000,2002,2003,2009byHolman BiblePublishers.