"This Man"
This chapter is strange to me. Who is Paul talking about when stating: "I also know this man was hijacked into paradise--" Making matters worse, he clouds the whole experience into a mystery because "this man" "was forbidden to tell what he heard."
Most of the chapter seems to be Paul asserting his credentials as an apostle, and in some ways, it seems he is "whining" to me--complaining that he doesn't get the respect he deserves.
Corinth was a cosmopolitan town with a lot of differing opinions about everything. Paul was struggling to be heard above the din. By his own admission, he wasn't much of an orator compared to the polished speakers of the day. Therefore, his focus was on the power of the message itself rather than the messenger. He shows real humility when he admits that he is weak, but that his many weaknesses are overcome by the power of Christ, and the message he preaches. He "owns" that he was selected as an apostle, and commanded to preach the Good News. His one concern is to be faithful to his calling. If we can focus on just that, the mysteries will not be such a distraction.
Still, if anyone has the time and ability to research the meaning of verses one through five of this Chapter, please share the results with us all.
Created 7 months ago
