John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 12:9

"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." — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ASV)

He said to me. It is not certain whether he received this answer by a special revelation, and it is not very important. For God answers us when he strengthens us inwardly by his Spirit and sustains us with his consolation, so that we do not give up hope and patience. He tells Paul to be satisfied with his grace, and, meanwhile, not to refuse discipline. Therefore, we must endure evil, however long it continues, because we are treated admirably well when we have God's grace as our support. The term grace, in this context, does not mean, as it does elsewhere, the favor of God, but by metonymy, the aid of the Holy Spirit, which comes to us from the unmerited favor of God. And it ought to be sufficient for the godly, since it is a sure and invincible support, preventing them from ever giving way.

For my strength. Our weakness might seem to be an obstacle to God perfecting his strength in us. Paul does not merely deny this but maintains, on the other hand, that it is only when our weakness becomes apparent that God’s strength is duly perfected. To understand this more clearly, we must distinguish between God’s strength and ours, for the word my is emphatic.

“My strength,” says the Lord (meaning that which helps human need—which lifts them up when they have fallen, and refreshes them when they are faint), “is perfected in the weakness of men;” that is, it has an opportunity to exert itself when human weakness becomes apparent; and not only that, but it is more clearly recognized as it should be.

For the word perfected refers to human perception and understanding, because God's strength is not perfected unless it openly shines forth, so that it receives its due praise. For people have no appreciation for it unless they are first convinced of their need for it, and they quickly lose sight of its value if they are not constantly exercised with a sense of their own weakness.

Most gladly, therefore. This latter statement confirms the explanation that I have given. I will glory, he says, in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Therefore, the one who is ashamed of this glorying shuts the door on Christ’s grace and, in a way, pushes it away from himself. For it is then, when in true humility of mind we feel and confess our own weakness, that we make room for Christ’s grace.

The valleys are watered with rain to make them fruitful, while meanwhile, the high summits of the lofty mountains remain dry. Let the one, therefore, become a valley, who desires to receive the heavenly rain of God’s spiritual grace.

He adds most gladly, to show that he is so influenced by an eager desire for Christ’s grace that he refuses nothing to obtain it. For we see very many who indeed yield submission to God, because they are afraid of committing sacrilege by coveting his glory, but at the same time, not without reluctance, or at least less cheerfully than is fitting.