II Corinthians 12:10
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That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
take pleasure in--too strongly. Rather as the Greek, "I am well contented in." infirmities--the genus. Two pairs of species follow, partly coming from "Satan's messenger," partly from men. reproaches--"insults." when--in all the cases just specified. then--then especially. strong--"powerful" in "the power of Christ" (Co2 12:9; Co2 13:4; Heb 11:34).
Open source ↗In this chapter the apostle proceeds in maintaining the honour of his apostleship. He magnified his office when there were those who vilified it. What he says in his own praise was only in his own justification and the necessary defence of the honour of his ministry, the preservation of which was necessary to its success. First, He makes mention of the favour God had shown him, the honour done him, the methods God took to keep him humble, and the use he made of this dispensation (Co2 12:1-10). Then he addresses himself to the Corinthians, blaming them for what was faulty among them, and giving a large account of his behaviour and kind intentions towards them (Co2 12:11 to the end).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. And though we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.