The Apostle Paul is writing in this chapter about one time when God revealed part of the Bible to Paul. He could not write down some of the information because there are no words that he could use to make people understand how wonderful heaven is. Paul tells us about these revelations to help prove that he was a true apostle. Paul had these teachings given to him directly from God. God did not want Paul to become proud, so He allowed Satan to attack Paul with a disability to keep him humble. He calls it a “thorn in the flesh.” We do not know exactly what the problem was, but it made Paul weak in his body. Paul prayed three times that God might take away this disability. God said, No, Paul, I will not take away your problems, but I will give you the grace to have joy in spite of your difficulty, and you will have the power of Christ to do the work of God.
The false teacher made the Corinthians doubt that Paul was an apostle. In verses 11-13, Paul reminds them about the miracles they had seen through him to support the fact that he was an apostle.
Paul had visited Corinth once. The second time he planned to visit them, he had to cancel. Now he plans this third time to visit them again. Paul loved these people more than the false teachers who were in their assembly did. Paul was willing to suffer much to serve these Christians so they could be strong in the Lord.
1. What did Paul hear when he was caught up into paradise? __________ 2 Corinthians 12:___
2. To keep Paul humble, he had been given a disability that he calls a __________. 2 Corinthians 12:___
3. Instead of removing the disability of Paul, God’s __________ was sufficient for his needs. 2 Corinthians 12:___
4. List the things Paul takes pleasure in for Christ’s sake. __________ 2 Corinthians 12:___
5. The signs and wonders that were wrought among the Corinthians proved that Paul truly was an __________. 2 Corinthians 12:___