2 Corinthians 12:5

Paul’s Thorn and God’s Grace

5 I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:5 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 12:5

Of such an one will I glory
The apostle in great modesty seems to speak of some other person, and not himself, as caught up into the third heaven, when he yet means himself; and does as it were distinguish himself from himself; himself in paradise from himself on earth; his sense is, that though he might lawfully glory of such a person so highly exalted and favoured, yet since this was his own case, he chose to forbear, and say no more of it:

yet of myself I will not glory;
though he could, and might, and did glory in the Lord, who had done such great things for him; as that he was in Christ, and knew himself to be so, had been rapt up into heaven, and heard things unutterable; yet he would not glory of these things as from himself, as owing to any merit or worthiness of his, but as instances of mere favour, grace, and goodness; if he gloried of anything of himself in his present state and condition, it should be of his weaknesses:

but in mine infirmities;
not his sinful ones, for these he mourned over, and was humbled before God and man under a sense of; but his many pressing difficulties of life, heavy reproaches, very great afflictions, and violent persecutions he endured for Christ's sake; see ( 2 Corinthians 12:10 ) .

2 Corinthians 12:5 In-Context

3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—

4 was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.

5 I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.

6 Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,

7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.