Good morning all of you who read my wonderings.  It is time to give my mind, and my fingers, a rest for a time.

Thank you for your interest in what I have to say.  I do appreciate it very much.  However, what I  hoped would be a two way dialogue;  has become just my own thoughts.  And that gets pretty boring.

So I am saying good-by for now.
                                                      m

Amazing Grace

2 Corinthians 12 continued.

Before I try to verbalize the Greek understanding of the terms weak and weakness.  I want to direct you to the place, in the book of Acts, where it describes where Paul was given this weakness that plagued him for so long. Please refer to Acts chapter 9.

Now on to discovering the puzzle of Paul’s words: for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

In the English language we define weakness as a quality or feature regarded as a disadvantage or fault — or possibly self-indulgent liking.

Something that we often strive to over come

In other words, something seen as an unfavorable quality or condition.  

In the Greek, and Hebrew, we find quite a different understanding.  It can be understood as a mark of a human in contrast to God’s strength.  Figuratively speaking, weakness can also have the form of inner-poverty or incapacity.(p83-84)

There is also the issue of sickness, or some kind of physical defect, or emotional challenges. That was, and is, seen as a weakness or disadvantage.  Which is referred to in the Greek and Hebrew understanding.

However,  what I found quite intriguing is the seemingly opposite definition to this all to common english perspective (of the term weak or weakness).

It comes with the root Greek word sterizo. Which is a verb meaning “to support, to strengthen, to be grounded in, to fix the asteritktos."   Asteritktos, is the noun, which means “unsupported,” “weak,” “but also agile,” “lively,” “tossing.” “It presupposes an assault the threatens faith or zeal.”

                                                                          (p1085)

The sterizo,  the strength that supports, is of God. 

It is God’s strength that supports us in our weakness.

That is basically what Paul is describing in his letter to the Corinthians, when he writes:  for 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.

There is then this possibility stated in scripture, and other wise,  that when we own our inability — our weakness.  Own it as difficult, or challenging.  We are then given a clearer perception as to our need for God to work within us; in order to be capable of living in proper and acceptable way before Him.

Or, that God can work, in our weakness, to better share God's love.  As he did in Paul.

With that realization we can begin to live with the ease of knowing, having faith in, and trusting in, our acceptability in God’s heart.

That is the “Good News” that Jesus came to bring to this messy earth.

The news that we are loved by God regardless of our imperfections, regardless of our weaknesses. 

It is rightly called “Amazing Grace.”

It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. ²I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. ³And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— ⁴was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. ⁵On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. ⁶But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, ⁷even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. ⁸Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, ⁹but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for 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. ¹⁰Therefore 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 Cor. 12)

Is Our Weakness Really Our Strength?

for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.(2 Cor. 12)

I have read this line many times; and it has alway been a source of positive  information. I have even preached a few sermons on the subject of weakness the leads to strength.  

But yesterday I heard it again, in someone else’s sermon, and it prompted me to write.

Being weak is not something that most of us tend to boast about.  Let alone fine pride in. 

So I invite you to think about how this line, written by Paul, can be true, logical,

or even desirable?

In this culture, of competitive prowess, how can we dare to champion the goal of weakness?

Or, is that what Paul means?

To answer that question I look for a commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:10 and found these thoughts for Jon Bloom ( the Executive Director for Desiring God Ministries Articles for Outreach & Missions. Should You Earnestly Desire to Prophesy?)  from August 1, 2010:

“Paul viewed himself as the foremost of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Apart from God’s grace in giving him the free gift of Christ’s righteousness, all of Paul’s achievements were “rubbish” (Philippians 3:8-9). Paul knew the impotence of self-righteousness (Philippians 3:6-9). He knew who had brought him to faith (Acts 9:5), called him to be an apostle (Romans 1:1), sent him to make Gentile disciples (Romans 1:5), and called him to suffer for his sake (Acts 9:16). Yes, Paul knew that he worked harder than just about everybody. But he knew that it was not him, but the grace of God that was with him (1 Corinthians 15:10).

And one reason he knew this so profoundly was that Jesus had disciplined him. Knowing how Paul’s indwelling sin might respond to the power and fruitfulness he would experience, Jesus gifted him with a “thorn in the flesh,” a “messenger of Satan” to harass him (2 Corinthians 12:7). It would be a continual reminder to Paul that he depended on Jesus for everything…..This opened up a world of insight to Paul. God showing his strength through weak things was laced all through redemptive history, culminating in the cross.

That’s why Paul said, “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness” (2 Corinthians 11:30). He even went beyond that: “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10)...Here’s the secret: the more aware you are of God’s grace, the more humble, prayerful, thankful, patient, gracious, content and joyful you will be. And you are more aware of God’s grace when you are weak.”

Now, that I have your juices running through your brain, I am wondering.  How is it that you would have God’s grace work in you?

More tomorrow.

⁸Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, ⁹but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for 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. ¹⁰Therefore 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 Cor. 12)