2 Corinthians 12 1

2 Corinthians 12:1 kjv

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:1 nkjv

It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:

2 Corinthians 12:1 niv

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:1 esv

I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:1 nlt

This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12 verses

2 Corinthians 12 1 Meaning

In 2 Corinthians 12:1, the Apostle Paul pivots from a reluctant, ironic boasting about his human sufferings and apostolic credentials—a "fool's boast" forced upon him by the "super-apostles" in Corinth—to an even more reluctant but necessary disclosure of divine, supernatural experiences. He declares that while boasting in human achievements or personal spiritual encounters is not truly beneficial or appropriate for him, he feels compelled to relate specific visions and revelations granted directly by the Lord to defend his genuine apostleship against those who boast for selfish gain. This serves to emphasize that his authority comes from God's power and grace, not human excellence or self-promotion.

2 Corinthians 12 1 Context

Chapter 12, verse 1 stands as a crucial turning point following Paul's extensive and highly ironic "fool's speech" in 2 Corinthians 11. In chapter 11, Paul, feeling coerced by the Corinthian church's admiration for the false apostles ("super-apostles") and their self-exalting rhetoric, begrudgingly boasts in his own apostolic credentials: his labors, sufferings, perils, and ultimately, his weaknesses. He employs satire and sarcasm, calling himself "foolish" for doing so, because true Christian boasting is always in the Lord, not oneself (1 Cor 1:31; 2 Cor 10:17).

However, Paul realizes that his opponents might possess what appeared to be compelling spiritual experiences. Therefore, in 12:1, he declares he will now move to an area where he truly has something to "boast" about—supernatural encounters given by the Lord. Yet, even this he presents with reluctance and an immediate disclaimer, suggesting that such boasting is still "not profitable" in the conventional sense, as it shifts the focus to himself rather than Christ. His intention is not self-glorification, but rather to establish the genuine divine source of his apostleship and to humbly counter the spurious claims of others without indulging in their self-serving spiritual showmanship. The historical context involves Paul's ongoing battle to defend the purity of the Gospel and his apostolic authority against those who distorted it for personal gain, relying on worldly wisdom, eloquent speech, or impressive but hollow spiritual displays.

2 Corinthians 12 1 Word analysis

• It is doubtless not profitable (Οὐ συμφέρει μοι καυχᾶσθαι - Ou sympherei moi kauchasthai):

  • Οὐ (Ou): A strong Greek negative, meaning "not," emphasizing the firm conviction.
  • συμφέρει (sympherei): Derived from sympherō, meaning "to bring together, collect, contribute, be profitable, be advantageous, be expedient, be good for." It implies more than mere financial gain; it refers to what is beneficial, expedient, or advantageous in a broader, ethical, or spiritual sense. Paul consistently argues against things that are lawful but not profitable (1 Cor 6:12, 10:23-24). Here, boasting, even in genuine spiritual experiences, isn't inherently advantageous for Paul or the church's spiritual growth when it draws attention to the individual rather than God.
  • μοι (moi): The dative pronoun "for me" or "to me," specifically indicating that this lack of profit applies to Paul personally and, by extension, to his ministry approach.
  • καυχᾶσθαι (kauchasthai): Present infinitive, "to boast, glory, pride oneself, swagger." This is the same verb Paul has used extensively throughout 2 Corinthians in relation to his "fool's speech" (e.g., 2 Cor 10:8, 11:16-18). His consistent stance is that only boasting "in the Lord" is appropriate (2 Cor 10:17). The form indicates ongoing action or a general principle.
  • "It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast": Paul immediately qualifies his upcoming disclosures. Despite being genuine spiritual experiences, he regards them as "unprofitable" to boast about. This sets a tone of reluctance and humility, contrasting with the self-aggrandizing boasting of his opponents. It may also carry an ironic tone, suggesting that in the eyes of his opponents, these spiritual experiences might be the only thing they deem worthy of boast. Paul's divine experiences were profound but privately cherished, usually not publicised for self-promotion.

• I will come (ἐλεύσομαι - eleusomai):

  • ἐλεύσομαι (eleusomai): Future tense of erchomai, "I will come." It indicates a decisive, future action. This signifies a shift in subject matter—from his forced "boast" of weakness to what will now be genuine, divine realities. It's a deliberate and necessary transition, not a casual remark.
  • "I will come to visions and revelations": This phrase marks a deliberate and announced change of topic. Having defended his authority by highlighting his sufferings (his real boast) and by satirically mirroring his opponents' foolish boasting in outward appearances, Paul now reluctantly unveils a deeper, more profound basis for his apostleship—direct divine encounters. This is not out of personal pride, but for the edification of the Corinthians and to demonstrate the legitimacy of his God-given authority.

• visions (ὀπτασίας - optasias):

  • ὀπτασίας (optasias): From optasia, meaning "a seeing, sight, vision (especially of divine things, as perceived in ecstasy or a dream)." These are extraordinary visual manifestations given by God. Examples include Daniel's visions (Dan 10) or Peter's vision on the housetop (Acts 10). They often involve perceiving things not visible to the natural eye but presented to the mind's eye or spiritual senses.

• and revelations (καὶ ἀποκαλύψεις - kai apokalypseis):

  • καὶ (kai): "And," linking two closely related but distinct spiritual phenomena.
  • ἀποκαλύψεις (apokalypseis): From apokalypsis, meaning "an uncovering, unveiling, disclosure, revelation." This refers to divine communications that convey specific knowledge, truths, or mysteries that were previously hidden (e.g., Gal 1:12; Eph 3:3-5; Rev 1:1). While visions might involve seeing, revelations involve understanding and knowing divine truths, often communicated verbally or mentally.
  • "Visions and revelations of the Lord": While both relate to divine encounters, visions are often perceived through the sense of sight (though spiritual sight), whereas revelations involve receiving hidden knowledge or understanding, often auditory or intellectual. Paul experienced both; for example, on the Damascus Road (a vision of light and Jesus) and throughout his ministry, receiving specific truths of the Gospel (revelations). The conjunction "and" suggests that Paul experienced both forms of divine communication, or perhaps they were intertwined in some experiences. They signify direct divine intervention and instruction.

• of the Lord (Κυρίου - Kyriou):

  • Κυρίου (Kyriou): The genitive of Kyrios, meaning "Lord, Master." In the New Testament, Kyrios is predominantly used for Jesus Christ, affirming His divine sovereignty and authority. Its usage here signifies that these experiences—the visions and the revelations—were not Paul's own conjurations or psychological phenomena, but originated directly from Jesus Christ himself. This highlights their absolute authority and divine legitimacy, in stark contrast to human boasting or the false claims of "super-apostles." It asserts the ultimate divine source of Paul's apostleship and teaching.

2 Corinthians 12 1 Bonus section

The phrase "It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast" could be interpreted with a subtle layer of Pauline irony. While it truly wasn't beneficial for Paul to boast personally, his opponents thrived on such outward displays. By framing his own profound spiritual experiences with such an almost apologetic tone, he exposes the hollowness of his opponents' likely boastful accounts of similar events, showing that genuine spiritual encounters foster humility rather than self-exaltation. This verse also implicitly highlights a potential boundary for Christians today: while sharing personal testimonies of God's work can be edifying, caution against self-promotion and a focus on God's glory remain paramount. Paul reveals these personal experiences only when necessary for the Gospel's defense and the church's health, not for personal renown.

2 Corinthians 12 1 Commentary

2 Corinthians 12:1 acts as an ironic segue, a moment where Paul grudgingly embraces the very language of self-promotion that he abhors. His preceding chapters showcased his apostolic authenticity through vulnerability, suffering, and weakness—a true "boast in the Lord." Here, however, he addresses a perceived expectation from the Corinthian church or his opponents, hinting that they value demonstrable spiritual spectacle. Thus, he introduces his profound spiritual experiences with the qualification, "It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast." This isn't because the experiences are invalid, but because boasting about them inherently risks self-glorification, thereby detracting from the Giver of the experiences. His emphasis is on the lack of profit for himself—it doesn't serve his aim of magnifying Christ and His work through a weak vessel.

Despite his personal reluctance, Paul recognizes a higher purpose. To definitively validate his apostleship against the challenges, and perhaps to reassure the Corinthians, he determines to recount these exceptional divine encounters. "I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord" signifies a direct intervention of the divine in Paul's life, validating his commission. These weren't self-induced trance states but direct impartations from "the Lord," confirming their divine origin and authoritative weight. He deliberately shifts the basis of his defense from his worldly sufferings and services (which he deemed his true boasts) to divine supernatural events, not out of pride, but as an undeniable testament to his God-appointed authority and access to heavenly truths, all the while downplaying the self-focused glory that might naturally arise. This reluctance to boast, even in extraordinary divine encounters, underscores the profound humility characteristic of authentic Christian leadership, focusing not on the spectacular but on Christ's glory.