2 Corinthians 12:5; In Mine Infirmities

2 Corinthians 12:5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

It is interesting how the Apostle Paul avoided mentioning that he was the one who experienced the vision of paradise, the third heaven. He uses a third person so that it might not bring to himself any glory or attention. Recall what John the Baptiser said in John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. This JC Ryle called “a splendid pattern of true and godly humility. A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven.” The Apostle Paul understood this. He was a blind man healed because he persecuted the church of God.

Again, he reminded the Corinthians of his sufferings. It was a mark of his identifying with the ministry of Christ – Luke 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

JC Ryle further said well, “A frame of mind like this is the highest degree of grace to which mortal man can attain. The greatest saint in the sight of God is the man who is most thoroughly “clothed with humility.” (1 Peter 5:5) Would we know the prime secret of being men of the stamp of Abraham, and Moses, and Job, and David, and Daniel, and Paul, and John the Baptizer? They were all eminently humble men. Living at different ages, and enjoying very different degrees of light, in this matter at least they were all agreed. In themselves they saw nothing but sin and weakness. To God they gave all the praise of what they were. Let us walk in their steps. Let us covet earnestly the best gifts; but above all, let us covet humility. The way to true honour is to be humble. ” Amen.