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.
YLT: and He said to me, 'Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;' most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:
Darby: And he said to me, My grace suffices thee; for my power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may dwell upon me.
ASV: And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
εἴρηκέν | He said |
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to utter, speak, say. |
|
μοι | to me |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
|
Ἀρκεῖ | Suffices |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἀρκέω Sense: to be possessed of unfailing strength. |
|
χάρις | grace |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: χάρις Sense: grace. |
|
μου | of Me |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
|
δύναμις | power |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: δύναμις Sense: strength power, ability. |
|
ἀσθενείᾳ | weakness |
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: ἀσθένεια Sense: want of strength, weakness, infirmity. |
|
τελεῖται | is perfected |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular Root: τελέω Sense: to bring to a close, to finish, to end. |
|
Ἥδιστα | Most gladly |
Parse: Adverb, Superlative Root: ἡδέως Sense: most gladly. |
|
μᾶλλον | rather |
Parse: Adverb Root: μᾶλλον Sense: more, to a greater degree, rather. |
|
καυχήσομαι | will I boast |
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular Root: καυχάομαι Sense: to glory (whether with reason or without). |
|
ἀσθενείαις | weaknesses |
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Plural Root: ἀσθένεια Sense: want of strength, weakness, infirmity. |
|
‹μου› | of me |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
|
ἵνα | so that |
Parse: Conjunction Root: ἵνα Sense: that, in order that, so that. |
|
ἐπισκηνώσῃ | may rest |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἐπισκηνόω Sense: to fix a tent or habitation on. |
|
ἐπ’ | upon |
Parse: Preposition Root: ἐπί Sense: upon, on, at, by, before. |
|
ἐμὲ | me |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
|
τοῦ | - |
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
|
Χριστοῦ | of Christ |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: Χριστός Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God. |
Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 12:9
Perfect active indicative, as if a final word. Paul probably still has the thorn in his flesh and needs this word of Christ. [source]
Old word of rich meaning, perhaps kin to Latin arceo, to ward off against danger. Christ‘s grace suffices and abides. Is perfected (τελειται teleitai). Present passive indicative of τελεω teleō to finish. It is linear in idea. Power is continually increased as the weakness grows. See note on Philemon 4:13 for this same noble conception. The human weakness opens the way for more of Christ‘s power and grace. Most gladly rather Two adverbs, one superlative “Rather” than ask any more (thrice already) for the removal of the thorn or splinter “most gladly will I glory in my weaknesses.” Slowly Paul had learned this supreme lesson, but it will never leave him (Romans 5:2; 2 Timothy 4:6-8). May rest upon me (επισκηνωσηι επ εμε episkēnōsēi ep' eme). Late and rare verb in first aorist active subjunctive with ινα hina (final clause), to fix a tent upon, here upon Paul himself by a bold metaphor, as if the Shechinah of the Lord was overshadowing him (cf. Luke 9:34), the power (δυναμις dunamis) of the Lord Jesus. [source]
Present passive indicative of τελεω teleō to finish. It is linear in idea. Power is continually increased as the weakness grows. See note on Philemon 4:13 for this same noble conception. The human weakness opens the way for more of Christ‘s power and grace. [source]
Two adverbs, one superlative “Rather” than ask any more (thrice already) for the removal of the thorn or splinter “most gladly will I glory in my weaknesses.” Slowly Paul had learned this supreme lesson, but it will never leave him (Romans 5:2; 2 Timothy 4:6-8). May rest upon me (επισκηνωσηι επ εμε episkēnōsēi ep' eme). Late and rare verb in first aorist active subjunctive with ινα hina (final clause), to fix a tent upon, here upon Paul himself by a bold metaphor, as if the Shechinah of the Lord was overshadowing him (cf. Luke 9:34), the power (δυναμις dunamis) of the Lord Jesus. [source]
Late and rare verb in first aorist active subjunctive with ινα hina (final clause), to fix a tent upon, here upon Paul himself by a bold metaphor, as if the Shechinah of the Lord was overshadowing him (cf. Luke 9:34), the power (δυναμις dunamis) of the Lord Jesus. [source]
Rev., correctly, He hath said. The force of the perfect tense is to be insisted on. It shows that the affliction was still clinging to Paul, and that there was lying in his mind when he wrote, not only the memory of the incident, but the sense of the still abiding power and value of Christ's grace; so that because the Lord hath said “my grace,” etc., Paul can now say, under the continued affliction, wherefore I take pleasure, etc., for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong. A more beautiful use of the perfect it would be difficult to find in the New Testament. [source]
The best texts omit my, thus turning the answer into a general proposition: strength is perfected in weakness; but besides the preeminent frigidity of replying to a passionate appeal with an aphorism, the reference to the special power of Christ is clear from the words power of Christ, which almost immediately follow. Compare 1 Corinthians 2:3, 1 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 4:7; Hebrews 11:34. Rev., rightly, retains my italicized. [source]
Only here in the New Testament. The simple verb σκηνόω todwell in a tent is used by John, especially in Revelation. See on John 1:14. The compound verb here means to fix a tent or a habitation upon; and the figure is that of Christ abiding upon him as a tent spread over him, during his temporary stay on earth. [source]
This may be taken with all the preceding details, weaknesses, etc., endured for Christ's sake, or with I take pleasure, assigning the specific motive of his rejoicing: I take pleasure for Christ's sake. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 12:9
Or in the word. Λόγος of a concrete saying, Romans 9:9; Romans 13:9. We do not say this on our own authority. Comp. 1 Corinthians 7:10, 1 Corinthians 7:12, 1 Corinthians 7:25. No recorded saying of the Lord answers to this reference. It may refer to a saying transmitted orally, or to a direct revelation to Paul. Comp. Galatians 1:12; Galatians 2:2; Ephesians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 12:1, 2 Corinthians 12:9. [source]
More correctly, we shall be content. Once in Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:9. A few times in lxx. Comp. Ps. of Song of Solomon 16:12: “But with good will and cheerfulness uphold thou my soul; when thou strengthenest my soul I shall be satisfied ( ἀρκέσει μοι ) with what thou givest me.” [source]
Plural, “coverings.” Late word from σκεπαζω skepazō to cover. Here only in N.T. We shall be content (αρκεστησομετα arkesthēsometha). First future passive of αρκεω arkeō to be content. Old word. See note on 2 Corinthians 12:9. This is the αυταρκεια autarkeia of 1 Timothy 6:6. There with Associative instrumental case, “with these.” [source]
First future passive of αρκεω arkeō to be content. Old word. See note on 2 Corinthians 12:9. This is the αυταρκεια autarkeia of 1 Timothy 6:6. [source]
Grace is the inward source of strength. Comp. the association of grace and strength in 2 Corinthians 12:9. [source]