2 Corinthians 12:7 (WEB)

Passage

By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 12:5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:6 For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me.

2 Corinthians 12:7 By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.

2 Corinthians 12:8 Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "reason", "exceeding", "greatness", "revelations", "should", "exalted", "excessively", and "given". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "reason" and "exceeding", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "For if I would desire to boast..." into verse 8's "Concerning this thing I begged the Lord...", so "reason" and "exceeding" 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 "reason" and "exceeding" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.