"Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me."
Gill tells us Paul, in this chapter, continues to vindicate himself against the false teachers, and prove his apostleship, He references a very remarkable and unusual vision; one, which he describes in the third person, where he saw the third heaven in a vision...hearing things that no man is allowed to speak. He was not certain of the circumstance and condition in which he was when he saw it, of which he could give no account; as whether in or out of the body,
This is a low point in Paul's ministry. He is being forced to defend his authority and, in so doing, reveals things that occurred between himself and God that perhaps should have stayed private and personal.
Why?
Because, in his commitment to keep the Corinthian church from falling under the influence of false teachers, he is spending precious time and energy on himself rather that on the Gospel. That's why he says "boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable". In other words, there wasn't a chance anybody would become "born-again" by hearing Paul's defense of his authority.
What a waste...
I can't help wondering how many churches have drifted from their moorings because they got distracted by the cult of personality and lost sight of the Gospel. In truth, those churches are all around us. They surely had a faithful leader some time back but they traded him in for one who would tell them what they wanted to hear.
Paul wasn't going to let this happen in Corinth. He loved the church too much. I wonder...do we put our own pastors through this dilemma? Do we make demands on them that have little to do with the Gospel and much to do with our personal preferences?
One of two things is going to happen: He will waste his time defending himself with no profit or, he will leave for greener pastures. Either way, we lose. Let's be better than that.
Live boldly out there today...
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