the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
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New King James Version
2 Corinthians 12:8
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- CondensedParallel Translations
Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me.
I prayed and asked Jesus to remove this thorn three times.
And about this thing I made request to the Lord three times that it might be taken away from me.
For this I thrice besought the Lord that it might depart from me.
Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me.
Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
Concerning this, I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
As for this, three times have I besought the Lord to rid me of him;
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from mee.
Beyond this I entreated the Lord three times, that it depart from me.
for ye which I besoughte the LORDE thryse, that it mighte departe fro me.
I besought the Lord thrice, to make him leave me.
Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me;
Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me;
For this thynge besought I the lorde thryse that it myght departe from me.
Concerning this thing I implored the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from me,
I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me.
I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away.
Three times I begged the Lord to take this thing away from me;
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrise, that it might depart from me.
Three times I besought my LORD concerning this thing, that it might depart from me.
Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me,Deuteronomy 3:23-27; Matthew 26:44;">[xr]
Concerning this three times I entreated of my Lord that it might be removed from me.
Respecting this, I thrice besought my Lord, that it might depart from me.
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
I asked the Lord three times to take it away from me.
Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me,
In this behalf, thrice, besought I, the Lord, that it might depart from me;
For which thing, thrice I besought the Lord that it might depart from me.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would depart from me.
For this thyng besought I the Lorde thryse, that it myght depart from me.
I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me.
Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me.
Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away.
For whiche thing thries Y preiede the Lord, that it schulde go awei fro me.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
I besought: Deuteronomy 3:23-27, 1 Samuel 15:11, 2 Samuel 12:16-18, Psalms 77:2-11, Matthew 20:21, Matthew 20:22, Matthew 26:39-44, Hebrews 5:7
Reciprocal: Genesis 32:26 - I will not Leviticus 13:58 - be washed Deuteronomy 3:26 - Let it Judges 15:18 - shall Nehemiah 8:10 - the joy Job 33:29 - oftentimes Psalms 6:9 - hath heard Psalms 34:4 - sought Psalms 107:6 - he delivered Psalms 138:3 - strengthenedst Matthew 26:44 - prayed Mark 9:29 - by prayer Mark 14:39 - he went Luke 11:4 - lead Luke 11:8 - because of Luke 11:9 - Ask Luke 17:5 - Increase Luke 18:39 - but John 14:13 - will John 14:21 - and will John 15:4 - As Acts 11:10 - three Romans 1:7 - and the Lord Romans 8:26 - with Romans 12:12 - continuing 1 Corinthians 10:13 - who Hebrews 4:16 - obtain Revelation 3:8 - a little
Cross-References
26 And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. [fn] Then men began to call on the name of the Lord.
Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, "This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.
So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.
The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house.
He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.
And he called the name of that place Bethel; [fn] but the name of that city had been Luz previously.
Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone."
Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, "Go up and spy out the country." So the men went up and spied out Ai.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,.... With respect to the thorn in the flesh, the messenger Satan, who gave him so much continual disturbance. This sent him to the throne of grace, to request of the Lord,
that it, or rather, "he might"
depart from me: this request greatly confirms the above sense, for it can hardly be thought the apostle would be so importunate about the removal of a common bodily affliction; and he knew that the corruption of his nature would remain with him as long as he was in the body; and as for afflictions, reproaches, and persecutions for the Gospel's sake, he was well apprized they would abide him wherever he went; but that so troublesome an adversary might depart, as it must be greatly desirable, so it was a very proper request: and it is made to a very proper person, to the "Lord" Jesus Christ; who in the days of his flesh had such power over the devils, as to dispossess them from the bodies of men by a word speaking, and held them in subjection, and in a panic fear of him; and when upon the cross, he spoiled principalities and powers, and in the latter day will bind Satan with a chain, and shut him up in the bottomless pit for a thousand years. This request was made thrice, not with any view to the three persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Spirit; nor to the three usual times of prayer in a day, morning, noon, and night; nor is any exact number of times intended; but the sense is, that he frequently besought the Lord on this account.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
For this thing - On account of this; in order that this calamity might be removed.
I besought the Lord - The word “Lord” in the New Testament, when it stands without any other word in connection to limit its signification, commonly denotes the Lord Jesus Christ; see the note on Acts 1:24. The following verse here shows conclusively that it was the Lord Jesus to whom Paul addressed this prayer. The answer was that his grace was sufficient for him; and Paul consoled himself by saying that it was a sufficient support if the power of Christ implied in that answer, should rest on him. He would glory in trials if such was their result. Even Rosenmuller maintains that it was the Lord Jesus to whom this prayer was addressed, and says that the Socinians themselves admit it. So Grotius (on 2 Corinthians 12:9) says that the answer was given by Christ. But if this refers to the Lord Jesus, then it proves that it is right to go to him in times of trouble, and that it is right to worship him. Prayer is the most solemn act of adoration which we can perform; and no better authority can be required for paying divine honors to Christ than the fact that Paul worshipped him and called upon him to remove a severe and grievous calamity.
Thrice - This may either mean that he prayed for this often, or that he sought it on three set and solemn occasions. Many commentators have supposed that the former is meant. But to me it seems probable that Paul on three special occasions earnestly prayed for the removal of this calamity. It will be recollected that the Lord Jesus prayed three times in the garden of Gethsemane that the cup might be removed from him, Matthew 26:44. At the third time he ceased, and submitted to what was the will of God. There is some reason to suppose that the Jews were in the habit of praying three times for any important blessing or for the removal of any calamity; and Paul in this would not only conform to the usual custom, but especially he would he disposed to imitate the example of the Lord Jesus. Among the Jews three was a sacred number, and repeated instances occur where an important transaction is mentioned as having been done thrice; see Numbers 22:28; Num 24:10; 1 Samuel 3:8; 1 Samuel 20:41; 1 Kings 18:44; Proverbs 22:20; Jeremiah 7:4; Jeremiah 22:29; John 21:17.
The probability, therefore, is, that Paul on three different occasions earnestly besought the Lord Jesus that this calamity might be removed from him. It might have been exceedingly painful, or it might, as he supposed, interfere with his success as a preacher; or it might have been of such a nature as to expose him to ridicule; and he prayed, therefore, if it were possible that it might be taken away. The passage proves that it is right to pray earnestly and repeatedly for the removal of any calamity. The Saviour so prayed in the garden; and Paul so prayed here. Yet it also proves that there should be a limit to such prayers. The Saviour prayed three times; and Paul limited himself to the same number of petitions and then submitted to the will of God. This does not prove that we should be limited to exactly this number in our petitions; but it proves that there should be a limit; that we should not be over-anxious, and that when it is plain from any cause that the calamity will not be removed, we should submit to it.
The Saviour in the garden knew that the cup would not be removed, and he acquiesced. Paul was told indirectly that his calamity would not be removed, and he submitted. We may expect no such revelation from heaven, but we may know in other ways that the calamity will not be removed; and we should submit. The child or other friend for whom we prayed may die; or the calamity, as, e. g., blindness, or deafness, or loss of health, or poverty, may become permanent, so that there is no hope of removing it; and we should then cease to pray that it may be removed, and we should cheerfully acquiesce in the will of God. So David prayed most fervently for his child when it was alive; when it was deceased, and it was of no further use to pray for it, he bowed in submission to the will of God, 2 Samuel 12:20.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 2 Corinthians 12:8. I besought the Lord — That is, Christ, as the next verse absolutely proves, and the Socinians themselves confess. And if Christ be an object of prayer in such a case as this, or indeed in any case, it is a sure proof of his divinity; for only an omniscient Being can be made an object of prayer.
Thrice — Several suppose this to be a certain number for an uncertain; as if he had said, I often besought Christ to deliver me from this tormentor: or, which is perhaps more likely, the apostle may refer to three solemn, fixed, and fervent applications made to Christ at different times; at the last of which he received the answer which he immediately subjoins. It is worthy of remark, that our Lord in his agony acted in the same way: at three different times he applied to God that the cup might depart from him; and in each application he spoke the same words, Matthew 26:39-44. There is, therefore, a manifest allusion to our Lord's conduct in these words of the apostle.
