John Calvin 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)

It is not expedient for me to glory. Now, when, as it werewolf, in the middle of the course, he restrains himself from proceeding further, and in this way he most appropriately reproves the impudence of his rivals and declares that it is with reluctance that he engages in this sort of contest with them.

For what a shame it was for them to scrape together commendations from all sides, or rather to go begging for them, in order to be on a level with so distinguished a man! As to the latter, he admonishes them by his own example that the more numerous and excellent the graces by which any one of us is distinguished, so much the less ought he to think of his own excellence.

For such a thought is exceedingly dangerous because, like one entering a labyrinth, the person is immediately dazzled, becoming too quick-sighted in discerning his gifts while, in the meantime, he is ignorant of himself. Paul is afraid lest this should befall him. The graces conferred by God are indeed to be acknowledged, so that we may be stirred—first, to gratitude for them, and secondly, to their right use; but to take occasion from them to boast—that is what cannot be done without great danger.

For I will come to visions. "I shall not creep on the ground but will be constrained to mount up. Hence I am afraid lest the height of my gifts should carry me away, so as to lead me to forget myself." And certainly, if Paul had gloried ambitiously, he would have fallen headlong from a lofty eminence, for it is humility alone that can give stability to our greatness in the sight of God.

Between visions and revelations there is this distinction—that a revelation is often made either in a dream or by an oracle, without anything being presented to the eye, while a vision is scarcely ever given without a revelation, or in other words, without the Lord revealing what is meant by it.