2 Corinthians 12:9-10
but he [the Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for [my] power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NRSVUE)
Bible passages can be baffling, and this one has its moments. Nevertheless, despite its revelations about Paul’s humanity (flaws and all) it manages to convey a mystical truth, a truth about the power of God and the reassurance that despite our weaknesses and all the difficulties we face in trying to live a Godly life, we can be content in God’s power.
Yes, the passage presents problems. First, there’s the incongruity of Christ’s words about power made perfect in weakness. This leads in turn to Paul’s response that he will gladly boast of his weakness all the more and that this will lead to the in-dwelling of Christ. Huh?
He follows this with a list of tribulations he has endured for the sake of Christ--weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. [To paraphrase Shakespeare, the gentleman doth protest too much, methinks.]
Still, he gamely presses on, asserting at the end that when he is weak he is strong. [In our day we would wonder what he was smoking.]
What is going on here?
Paul is writing a letter, so let’s read it in that context. He’s writing to the ‘church’ in Corinth in Greece. He has been there before and has written several letters, though we have only one other besides this one. Apparently there has been some kind of falling out between Paul and the Corinthians and, to make matters worse, other Christian missionaries have shown up in Paul’s absence, horning in on Paul’s territory and challenging his teachings. Paul is annoyed at the competition and the accusations flung against him by these interlopers. He’s also a bit defensive (as is made clear in the passages earlier in the chapter), and he responds with some [over-the-top] boasting of which this passage is an example.
It’s all rather unseemly.
So what of this? The lectionary editors have taken this well out of context; what could be their point?
We can only speculate, but one explanation might be an effort on their part to show the depth of Paul’s commitment. He’s willing to endure all things--insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities, even derision and embarrassment--playing the fool for Christ whose grace turns weakness into strength. His letter reveals his weaknesses; it also risks further embarrassment, even hostility. We then are confronted by the Big Question: What are we willing to risk?
Questions for Reflection:
- When have we actually risked social embarrassment or conflict on account of our faith/trust? Especially in church or Sunday school? How much do we trust one another to risk being dismissed or even called out for having the "wrong" perspective?
Prayer:
Lord,
Grant us the courage to take risks in your name, and even more, help us risk extending grace to those who are wrong (i.e., who disagree with us) so they needn’t play the fool. [They might be right] Let us recognize the log in our own eye for what it is and be generous to one another as you are generous to us.
Amen.
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