Verses 1-6
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He writes in third person as an act of modesty. He was taken to heaven to see and hear things too profound to say. Surely someone would boast in himself after such an experience! But Paul does not praise himself for this. He humbly speaks of the experience as though it happened to another man.
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Verse 5. And instead, about himself, he boasts only his sufferings. Why?
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Verse 6. He would not speak of anything that was beyond what people could see or hear in his life. And his character amidst suffering is what people could see and hear.
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This is another reason why it was unprofitable for him to talk about this grand, spiritual experience. It wasn't relatable, nor helpful, nor relevant for bringing edification to others. At best, it astounds, and at worst, it distracts and detours.
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But in his sufferings, people could witness an example to follow—one that would build them up and show them what love really looks like.
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Therefore, don't be quick to talk about your personal, spiritual experiences. Speak about things that will be truly helpful to people.
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Don't desire to talk about yourself, but if you must, talk about good examples you set in your hardships—ones that people can understand and follow (1 Corinthians 11:1).
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Verses 7-8
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Paul's visions and revelations of the Lord would have puffed him up with pride, because “knowledge puffs up” (1 Corinthians 8:1).
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In order to keep him humble, he needed to suffer an attack from a messenger of the devil. This attack affected his body. We don't know whether the attack was from a spiritual or physical being, but simply a messenger of Satan.
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Remember that God allows our sufferings (1 Corinthians 10:13) for purposes that we might not always understand, but they are for our good—to build and preserve godliness in our lives (Romans 5:3-4).
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Verses 9-10
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When we suffer and experience utter weakness and inability, that's when we are truly relying on the Christ's strength.
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When you suffer, see it as an opportunity to rely on God's grace and power. And rejoice in these sufferings because, when you have no power left, that's when the power of God shows most!
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See notes on 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.
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Verses 11-13
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Paul had been discredited by some false apostles who had crept their way into the Corinthians church, and Paul has to correct them in this. He shows them through the evidence of God's calling on his life, and through his own example, that he was a true apostle they could trust.
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Verse 11. He didn't want to talk about himself like this, but he was forced to in order to correct the misinformation about apostles that the Corinthians had come to believe.
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Know that true apostles are established by God, not man (Galatians 1:1). No one can make themselves an apostle (2 Corinthians 10:12,18, Matthew 23:6-12); and attaching a leadership title to one's name is wrong.
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Though Paul was nothing special, naturally speaking, the power of God worked in his life, to show that he was an apostle, through many miraculous deeds.
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Understand that apostles—true apostles—are marked in Scripture by three primary works and experiences:
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1. Planting churches (1 Corinthians 3:6-10, Acts 14:21-23)
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2. Suffering great turmoil and persecution (2 Corinthians 6:3-10, 11:22-33)
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3. Working great miracles (Acts 14:3, 15:12, 2 Corinthians 12:12).
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Know a person by their fruit! (Matthew 7:15-20).
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Verses 14-19
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Verse 14b. Leaders are supposed to be like parents to children in a way. Parents work to provide for their own children. While they are being raised in their parents' home, children don't provide for their parents. And parents don't want what their children can give them; they just want their children—to know them, love them, and to see them prosper.
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Therefore, for a church-leader to demand compensation for his work would be like a parent demanding pay from his/her children as compensation for being their parents. Absurdity!
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Verses 14a, 16-19. Paul and all his companions, as spiritual parents and servants to the Corinthian believers, purposed to never be a burden to them by demanding pay.
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Verses 15,19. Instead, they spent their own resources and energy in order to provide for them and to strengthen them in the faith.
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They continued to love them, providing for their spiritual and natural needs, even if they would not be loved by them in return.
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If you're a church-leader, think of the believers in your fellowship as spiritual children. Provide for them as a parent, and do not expect them to give you anything in return. Don't seek anything from them; only seek to see them excel in Christ.
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Work at providing for their spiritual and natural needs, so that they can prosper and grow in the faith and in life, and do all this out of love for them, not because you want something from them.
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Verses 20-21
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Verse 20. Paul wrote to correct the Corinthians and motivate them to repent of their sin. But if he came to them in person only to find out that they did not repent, Paul would find them in a state he did not desire. He would then have to be harsh with them, and thus the Corinthians would find Paul in a state they did not desire.
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Paul's saying, “I don't want to find you in sin, and you don't want me to be harsh with you.”
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Verse 21. Then he says, “Lest when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many...” Leaders, after they've done their duties for the church, should feel humbled and grieved if believers are not repenting. Why?
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The influence of leaders is meant to help believers to continue to repent and to grow. But if the believers do not, what does that say about the leader?
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For the condition of the people under a leader stands as a mark of the quality of his leadership (1 Corinthians 9:1-2).
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Therefore, if you're a leader, be grieved over the sins of your people, be humbled if they are not growing, and do your absolute best to help them grow!
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You don't want to stand before the judgment seat of Christ and be held responsible in any way for the failings of the church (Acts 20:20,26).
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