2 Corinthians 12:9 (GNV)

Passage

And he said vnto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect through weakenesse. Very gladly therefore will I reioyce rather in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the aboundance of reuelations, there was giuen vnto me a pricke in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet mee, because I should not be exalted out of measure.

2 Corinthians 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrise, that it might depart from me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said vnto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect through weakenesse. Very gladly therefore will I reioyce rather in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproches, in necessities, in persecutions, in anguish for Christes sake: for when I am weake, then am I strong.

2 Corinthians 12:11 I was a foole to boast my selfe: yee haue compelled mee: for I ought to haue bene commended of you: for in nothing was I inferiour vnto the very chiefe Apostles, though I bee nothing.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "infirmities", "grace", "said", "vnto", "sufficient", "thee", "power", and "perfect". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "infirmities" and "grace", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "For this thing I besought the Lord..." into verse 10's "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in...", so "infirmities" and "grace" belong inside that flow. In 2 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "infirmities" and "grace" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.