Paul was dealing with a virtue cycle in Corinth. He had confronted the sexual corruption within that church, but now they were having preachers travel in who set themselves up as very holy. Who talked about visions, and power, and miracles. Who implied all would be well.
Who boasted. Paul waxed sarcastic. He had the right: while these men boasted, he did.
There is much to take from this, but the other part of the introduction is that one should be careful with proof texts. Whenever I am weak, I am strong comes at the end of this passage. He is contrasting his imperfections, his illnesses, his frailty with the successes claimed by these false teachers.
Now forgotten. For the narrative of the moment is fungible.
1It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven ? whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. 3And I know that such a person ? whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows ? 4was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. 5On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, 7even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. 8Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
The ancients knew about hubris. The idea that we should be perfect, and that we should we worshipped. was seem as effete: something that only effeminate men would demand. (They considered that giving into the demands of women and worshipping them to be a uxoriousness, and that this was, and is, a vice).
Most of us cannot cope with such. We are left with physical problems. We have to deal with pain. We are limited, and the greater our spiritual depth and insight the more we may need such. So that we do not set ourselves up as Gods or see ourselves as immortal.
For we are not.
The false prophet tells us that we do not need to change and that all will be well. The true teacher promises blood sweat tears and pain. It is a message we do not want to hear.
But in this fallen times, it is the message we need.