2 Corinthians 12:9
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Explanation and Commentary of 2 Corinthians 12:9
Paul’s claim is that God had given him a “thorn in his flesh” (2 Cor 12:7) in order to prevent him from becoming conceited because of his powerful experiences and revelations from God. He said that he had pleaded with God to remove this “messenger from Satan” (2 Cor 12:8) but God’s reply was our verse 9.
God will not have us stand on our own strength. He would have us rely on him alone. Just as Gideon was deprived of the troops for a human victory over Israel’s enemies (Ju 7), God would deprive us of anything in ourselves that would boast of our own might in the life God has called us to.
Rather than be upset with God, Paul used the opportunity to praise God and boast in Christ alone (1 Cor 1:31). He had come to love the fact that he had “died, and [his] life [was] now hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3). He also valued the results that came about as a result of his surrender to God’s will for his life, even the hardship of this humbling thorn.
Breaking Down the Key Parts of 2 Corinthians 12:9
#1 “But he said to me,”
God’s Word to the Apostle Paul was authoritative and inspired Paul to write infallible Scripture. One of the things God spoke to Paul was this particular Word, spoken in response to “unanswered” prayer from Paul. Sometimes when God doesn’t answer, it is because his answer is, “No.”
#2 “My grace is sufficient for you,”
How wonderful to receive the grace of God. We need nothing else. In this case, God is explaining that even if he is not going to deliver Paul of this “weakness,” it does not mean that God has no grace for Paul. This grace was first manifested in his salvation of Paul on the road to Damascus. In this case, God is saying that his salvation was all that Paul truly needed, and also that God would give him the grace to weather this “weakness.”
#3 “for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
It is sometimes misunderstood as being a weakness in some sin. This is not probable. More likely it is some physical ailment, but there is no way to know for certain. If Paul were talking about sin then he would be guilty of what others are accusing him of saying, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase” (Ro 6:1)?
#4 “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Paul lists “insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties,” (2 Cor 12:10) as, and along with his weaknesses that he will boast in for the sake of glorifying God for the power of Christ to rest upon him. Paul has found the secret to the Christian life. He has died to himself and lives unto God for the sake of Christ. Any weakness in his flesh will serve to bring God more glory as Paul accepts what God has for him with great trust in his plan and his goodness.
I highly recommend you hit the play button below to see this incredible commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Here’s another exceptional commentary from a bible study on 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Biblical Translations of2 Corinthians 12:9
NIV
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
NLT
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
ESV
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
KJV
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
NKJV
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Author Bio
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.
FAQs
Instead, God proclaimed that His grace was fully capable of providing everything Paul needed to endure this suffering. God told Paul that His power is made perfect in weakness. The Greek word for "sufficient" here is arkei, which implies endurance, strength, or satisfaction.
What does God mean by "my grace is sufficient for you"? ›
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. In context Jesus was telling Paul that God's grace was sufficient to sustain him through this infirmity and that He (Christ) would strength would be shown through Paul's weakness.
What does his grace is enough for me mean? ›
God's Grace Is Sufficient to SAVE us
It was grace that led Him to Calvary, where He offered Himself as a sacrifice in our place and where He shed His life's blood so that we might be forgiven of sin's guilt and delivered from sin's penalty.
What is the devotion of 2 Corinthians 12 9? ›
For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). Living by faith in God's grace means being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus. Therefore, faith will not shrink back from what reveals and magnifies all that God is for us in Jesus. That is what our own weakness and suffering are meant to do.
What does 1 Corinthians 12/9 mean? ›
The Spirit gives one or more spiritual gifts to every believer for the common good, to be used in service to the church. Nobody acquires or earns their own gifts. The same Spirit gives them away, for free, as He sees fit, meaning that having one or the other gift does not make a Christian more important than another.
What is an example of sufficient grace? ›
Sufficient grace means enough grace.
God supplies us with as much grace as we need for every situation we face. Grace for facing illness or financial need; grace for our lack of wisdom or lack of social skills; grace for dealing with rebellious children or aging parents.
Who did Jesus tell his grace is sufficient? ›
Paul was the Apostle who wrote the two letters to the Corinthians. It was in the second letter that God told Paul that His grace was sufficient and that His power was made perfect in weakness.
What is the spiritual meaning of grace? ›
God's grace is usually defined as undeserved favor. Grace cannot be earned; it is something that is freely given. We count on God's grace and the bridge he built in our relationship with him. Bible verses about grace abound. From the foundation of the Old Testament, we know that grace is a part of God's character.
Is God's grace for everyone? ›
Common grace is what God provides to everyone, even to the unbelievers. Common grace maintains the whole of creation, and every breath that anyone takes is due to it. God still loves His creation and, “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5: 44-45).
What does sufficient mean in the Bible? ›
As a sufficient rule, it means that nothing can supersede Scripture. If something disagrees with Scripture, it is wrong. As to sufficiency in content, it means that Scripture is the sufficient rule in a limited scope. It relates to all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.
Dear Father, Your grace is sufficient for me. Your power is made perfect in weakness. When I am weak, Christ's power can assist, shine through, lift me up.
What is the message of 2 Corinthians 12? ›
When we are weak in ourselves, then we are strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; when we feel that we are weak in ourselves, then we go to Christ, receive strength from him, and enjoy most the supplies of Divine strength and grace.
What is the lesson of 2 Corinthians 12? ›
Paul was committed to his faith. He demonstrated his faith in the way that he fought through adversity and always put God first. That is a lesson for us today! When life gets hard, instead of questioning God or feeling sorry for ourselves, we need to understand that this is all part of God's plan for us.
What is the first Corinthians 12 verse 9? ›
1 Corinthians 12:9 In-Context
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
Where does it say "my grace is sufficient"? ›
This is what the verse 2 Corinthians 12:9 talks about, as it is written, But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
What does grace mean in the Bible? ›
grace, in Christian theology, the spontaneous, unmerited gift of the divine favour in the salvation of sinners, and the divine influence operating in individuals for their regeneration and sanctification.
What is the biblical meaning of God's grace? ›
God's grace is usually defined as undeserved favor. Grace cannot be earned; it is something that is freely given. We count on God's grace and the bridge he built in our relationship with him. Bible verses about grace abound. From the foundation of the Old Testament, we know that grace is a part of God's character.
What are the 3 means of grace? ›
Wesley identifies three essential means of grace that Christians throughout time have always observed: prayer, scripture and the sacrament of communion. In prayer, we turn to God for help, strength and/or forgiveness while opening ourselves up to God's guidance.
What does it mean to ask God for his grace? ›
Grace is God's love, the gifts that you don't deserve, it is God's favor, God's strength, and His ability to forgive. In Paul's words, it is “undeserved favor.” Romans 3:24: “We are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
