Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 12:1

"I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord." — 2 Corinthians 12:1 (ASV)

Once again Paul stresses that in this matter of boasting he has had no choice . He feels forced to break a fourteen-year silence (v.2) and boast about a vision the Lord had given him. This will not edify the church or gain anything for him personally, but the Corinthians will see that he was not outmatched by his rivals in an important area of their boasting.

If Paul intended to distinguish between “visions” (GK 3965) and “revelations” (GK 637), then a vision is always seen, whereas a revelation may be either seen or perceived in some other way; i.e., all visions are also revelations, but not all revelations come through visions. From Acts it is clear that Paul frequently had visions (Acts 9:12; Acts 16:9–10; Acts 18:9–10; Acts 22:17–21; Acts 23:11; et al.).