2 Corinthians 12:1

2 Corinthians 12:1-6. The Visions and Revelations vouchsafed to St Paul

1. It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come The Greek text here is in the most utter confusion. Out of the seven Greek words which commence this chapter, the genuineness of only three is guaranteed by the agreement of the MSS. and versions. Some MSS. read, instead of as the A. V., I must glory, it is not expedient for me, for(or yet). Others again, I must glory, it is not, I grant, expedient, yet. The Vulgate begins with if(if it bihoveth to have glorie, it spedith not, but I schal come, Wiclif), no doubt from ch. 2 Corinthians 11:30. The A. V. avoids the difficulty of choosing between forand butbefore I will comeby leaving out both. The usual rule in the case of a doubtful reading is to prefer the more difficult one, on the ground that a transcriber was more likely to evade what seemed to him to be a difficulty by the substitution of an easier word, than of his own accord to add to the difficulty of the passage. This rule is inapplicable here, where the alterations have clearly proceeded from an inability to comprehend the passage as it stood. The reading is therefore to be preferred which falls in best with the general scope of St Paul's argument. As regards the first portion of the sentence it makes very little difference to the sense whether we follow the A. V. and render I am quite aware(δή) that it is not well for me to boast, or with other authorities, I must boast, I know it is not good for me. With regard to for or but, the latter seems to fall in best with the context. If we read for, we must regard St Paul as intending to give an additional proof of the undesirableness of boasting, as shewn by the fact that (2 Corinthians 12:7) even when there be anything to boast of, it is invariably in the end a source of weakness. If we read but, we must suppose St Paul to feel himself compelled to boast, lest the incident to which he has just referred (ch. 2 Corinthians 11:31-33) should be turned into an accusation of cowardice. Therefore in spite of himself he gives a proof which few would venture to challenge, that he has a right to speak in the name of God, in order that his confessions of weakness might not be used against him. For expedientand glorysee ch. 2 Corinthians 8:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:12.

visions and revelations of the Lord] Visionsare the sight of things ordinarily beyond our mortal ken, whether waking or in dreams. Revelations(see 1 Corinthians 1:7 in the Greek, and Galatians 1:12; Galatians 1:16; Galatians 2:2) are here the mental and spiritual discoveries resulting from such visions.