Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 12:6

"For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me [to be], or heareth from me." — 2 Corinthians 12:6 (ASV)

The remarkable contrast between Paul and the certain “man in Christ” (v.2) comes into even sharper relief in v.5 and naturally prompts the question: If Paul is speaking of himself in vv.2–4, why does he speak about his experience in the third person?

(1) He was clearly embarrassed at needing to boast at all (v.1).

(2) He wished to avoid suggesting that he was in any sense a special kind of Christian. The revelation was given him as “a man in Christ”; the initiative had been not his but God’s.

(3) Although Paul recognized the honor involved in being the recipient of a vision, he wanted to dispel any idea that it added to his personal status or importance. Concerning himself as a man in Christ who had received a special revelation, Paul was prepared to boast if circumstances demanded it. But concerning himself as a man of action and accomplishment, he refused to boast at all. Only experiences that showed his “weakness” (GK 819) he considered suitable material for any personal boasting (v.5).

If, however, anyone asserted that Paul had not done anything worth boasting about, he adds a word of defense (v.6). If he were to boast of his strengths or things that were not inexpressible, he would not appear as some fool who was priding himself on imagined glories. Rather, he would be speaking truth. He had every reason to boast, but he refrains because he wanted the Corinthians’ estimate of himself to be based on their recollection of his personal credentials (cf. 5:11b; 12:12).

All this suggests that his rivals may have been boasting about imaginary visions or about exploits.