Tuesday, July 3, 2018

7th after pentecost year b - 2 corinthians

2 Corinthians 12:2-10
2I know a person in Christ
    who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—
              God knows.
    3And I know that such a person—
              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 me in the flesh,
                   a messenger of Satan to torment me,
                        to keep me from being too elated.
                   8Three times I appealed to God about this,
                        that it would leave me,
                             9but God said to me,
                                  “My grace is sufficient for you,
                                       for power is made perfect in weakness.”
              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.

Queeries for the text:
Which heaven is the third one?
What doesn't God know?
Why does Paul do so much boasting?
Did Paul create the humblebrag?
What was Paul's thorn?
How many different, potentially problematic, interpretations exist of Paul's thorn?
Was it really a thorn or was Paul just caught in the cultural thinking of his day?
Was God telling Paul the thorn was not a bad thing?
What makes me weak?
What makes me strong?

What are your queeries?

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