2 Cor. 12:9. For My strength is made perfect in weakness.
That is, you suffer, Paul, so that it would not seem that many are placing obstacles to the preaching due to My weakness; take courage, for My power is revealed more fully when you, the persecuted, overcome the persecutors. Note, he himself said that he was given over to temptations so that he would not be exalted; but God indicates another reason for this, namely that His power will only be fully revealed when the apostles are in weakness, that is, amid persecutions and dangers.
2 Cor. 12:9. And therefore I will much more gladly boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Since, he says, I have heard that the power of God is made perfect in weakness, I will henceforth boast in my weaknesses, for the more numerous they are, the more abundant power of God they will bring down upon me. Therefore, do not think that I speak of the thorn with sorrow, but rather I rejoice and boast, since through the multiplication of afflictions I draw upon myself the greater power of God.
2 Cor. 12:10. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ,
I desired, he says, as a human being, to be delivered from afflictions, but after I heard what I heard, I boast and am of good cheer, that is, I rejoice, I find pleasure in weaknesses. Then, lest you think that he means fever and other illnesses, he explains these weaknesses to you, saying that they consist "in reproaches" and so on. This, on the one hand, puts to shame the false apostles who boast in afflictions, as opponents of God, and on the other hand, persuades the disciples not to be ashamed of their teacher, but rather to take pride in him, since the dangers exist by the will of God and for the glory of Christ.
2 Cor. 12:10. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
What do you marvel that the power of God is revealed in weaknesses? For I too become stronger amidst them, having in myself the most abundant grace, as, for example, in those cases when, being in prison, I converted the jailer (Acts 16:31), when, having suffered shipwreck, I brought fear upon the barbarian islanders (Acts 28:4–6), when, standing before the judge in chains, I overcame both him and my accusers (Acts 26:31). Thus, he appeared strong, courageous, and glorious when he was weak, that is, when he was in danger.
2 Cor. 12:11. I have become a fool in boasting; you compelled me to this.
Again he justifies himself for boasting. Earlier he said, "receive me, even as foolish" and "as if in foolishness," but now he calls himself foolish already without the particle "as"; for having done what he desired, he boldly subjects himself to such abasement, sufficiently teaching us not to boast without necessity, since Paul even when such necessity existed calls himself foolish. "You compelled me," that is, I said this being impelled by concern for your salvation, seeing that the false apostles whom you obey are corrupting you by their boasting. Therefore I resolved for your sake to tell you something about myself.
2 Cor. 12:11. You ought to have commended me,
You should have been, he says, the ones recounting my labors and glorifying them; but since you did not do this, and listened to the false apostles, and were corrupted, I have said this for your salvation.
2 Cor. 12:11. For I am not in the least inferior to the most eminent Apostles, even though I am nothing.
Above he said hesitantly: "I think that I am not in the least inferior to the most eminent Apostles" (11:5), but now he speaks with greater force: "I am not in the least inferior," that is, he should not be considered lower than the apostles — Peter and the others. But here again he did not depart from his custom and added: "though I am nothing." Note his prudence. He does not compare himself with the false apostles, nor does he even deign to mention them, as one incomparably higher than they, but affirms that he is equal to the apostles. At the same time, he hints that the Corinthians insult the apostles when they place one equal to them below the false apostles.
2 Cor. 12:12. The signs of an Apostle were displayed before you
Though "I am nothing," he says, but do not pay attention to that; rather, notice that I omitted nothing of what is proper to the apostles, for you yourselves are witnesses that I fulfilled everything.
2 Cor. 12:12. with all patience,
The first quality of an apostle is patience and the courageous endurance of all things. But notice his humility. How many dangers, how many outward and inward struggles he summed up in a single word — patience. For that which was his own doing, that is, patience, he expressed in one word; but as for the signs, which belonged not to him but to the grace of God — in many words. Listen.
2 Cor. 12:12. Signs, wonders, and powers.
What the difference is between a sign and a wonder has been said in another place. But lest anyone think that this was said only about beneficial acts, he adds: "and powers." For "power" clearly points to something punitive as well. Notice here too how many dead, lepers, blind, demoniacs — all who received his benefactions, as well as those punished by him, such as Elymas — he encompasses so briefly.
2 Cor. 12:13. For what is it in which you were inferior to the other churches?
Lest anyone should say: true, you are great, but still you have not done what the apostles did in other churches, therefore he says: what do you lack? Did you receive a lesser gift compared to the other churches?
2 Cor. 12:13. Except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.
He rebukes them with great severity, saying: if you hold it against me that I did not burden you, but preached the Gospel to you without putting you to any expense, then I ask for indulgence; forgive me this fault. At the same time, these words also contain praise for them, since they considered it an offense that he did not deign to take anything from them.
2 Cor. 12:14. Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you.