II Corinthians 12:1:
12:1It is necessary to boast, indeed not contributing, but I will go into sights and revelations of (the) Lord:
Paul writes: it is necessary (it's a 'must,' an obligation, I ought) to boast (to speak justifiably loudly) in this letter to you Corinthian and Achaian holy-people (sanctified-people, Christians, saints, children of the only true God). Indeed boasting is not contributing (absolutely it is not being contributive, it does not confer help and benefit to every holy-person's well-being to bring boasts of different physical weaknesses together, as I explained earlier – see chapter 11).
But now I will proceed regarding sights (visions) and revelations (things which have been uncovered, revealed to me, as though removing a veil to expose what has previously been hidden) pertaining-to and proceeding-from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verses 2-4:
.2I knew2 a man in Christ before fourteen years – whether in (the) body I did not know2 or outside-of the body I did not know2, God knew2 – the person-of-this-kind having been caught-away until (the) third heaven; .3and I knew2 the man of-this-kind – whether in (the) body or without the body I did not know2, God knew2 – .4that he was caught-away into the Paradise and he heard unspeakable spoken-matters which it is not permitting to man to utter-forth.
Now Paul gives some details about the sights and revelations of the Lord Jesus Christ which he had previously seen and received – this is the in holy spirit category - in contrast to the physical or flesh category which he has been referring to in chapter 11. Fourteen years previously, when looking at the records in the Book of Acts and the historical timeline, indicates that Paul received these sights and revelations sometime during Acts 11 or 12 (which ended about 44 AD) and possibly into Acts 13:1.
I knew and still know (perceive) a man within the sphere of action of Christ (Christ being the efficient, instrumental cause emanating from within enabling the action)…. What man is Paul referring to? He is talking about the spirit of Christ within him, the inside man, the new man, his holy spirit-life, the deposit of the new covenant of spirit. Paul figuratively uses the word "man" to refer to the holy spirit which is within him. He has already taught regarding this in this letter and in his previous letter to them (refer to I Corinthians 2:16, 6:19, 12:13, 27; II Corinthians 4:16-18, 5:5, 17).
I knew and continue to know a man in Christ before 14 years time-wise, and this is the sort of man (such a one) who was caught-away (snatched and carried away suddenly) until and time and place of the third heaven (the time of the future new heaven when God's spiritual realm will be the source of life, light, power, etc; refer to Revelation 21:1 and following). But I still don't know (perceive) whether my physical body with its soul-life was participating during this time or if it was only my holy spirit-life which was participating, because they were so real, experiential and vivid to me that I cannot tell the difference, however, God knows (perceives) what and how this happened.
Also, I knew and still know (perceive) that the man of this sort was caught-away (snatched and carried away suddenly) into the Paradise (the time of the future new earth when it will be Paradise; refer to Revelation 21:1 and following) and this man heard unspeakable spoken-matters (inexpressible, not addressed, not issued, not-to-be-spoken words that are only a portion of the whole Word spoken but in themselves contained the specific discourse). But it is not permitting (not presently available to be done, cannot physically do, not possible) to that man to utter-forth (to speak out loud) these unspeakable spoken-matters to people during this present time-period. And, I still don't know (perceive) whether my physical body with its soul-life was participating during this time or if it was only my holy spirit-life which was participating, because they were so real, experiential and vivid to me that I cannot tell the difference, however, God knows (perceives) what and how this happened.
Paul could not have been caught-away physically in the third heaven or in the Paradise of God because neither the third heaven nor Paradise is in existence for mankind during the present time. Paul's inside-man, his holy spirit-life, the spirit of Christ within him, saw the sights and heard the revelations pertaining-to and proceeding-from the Lord Jesus Christ, which communicated that information to Paul's mind, but as to how much of Paul's body with its soul-life was involved with the reception of that information (whether within, or outside of, or apart from his body), he did not know – but he knew that God knew!
Let us read some other information that God has made-known and is recorded in both the Old and New Covenant writings regarding the third heaven and the Paradise. These references are the King James Version. The references taken from the Book of Genesis refer to past time, while the references taken from the Book of Revelation refer to future time.
Genesis 2:7-9:
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 3:22-24:
And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
To learn more regarding what happened in the original Paradise (the walled garden with trees in it, as a park to be taken-care of and enjoyed, not a cultivated vegetable plot) and why it is not presently available to mankind, I encourage you to read my study of Appendix to Romans.
Revelation 2:7:
.7The (person) having an ear must hear what the spirit says to the churches. To the (person) being-victorious I will give to him to eat out-from the tree of the life which is in the Paradise of God.
Revelation 21:1-5, 22:
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first [former] heaven and the first [former] earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Revelation 22:1-6:
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
The third heaven refers to that future period of time which will begin after all-things will be subdued to Christ, the Lamb of God, and Christ will hand over the kingdom in proper order to God (refer to I Corinthians 15:22-28). God will be worshipped and served being the only true God by all in His kingdom. These verses taken from the Book of Revelation were written by revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ to John, and they refer to the same period of time to which the Apostle Paul is referring here in his second letter to the Corinthian and Achaian holy-people. We should note that John was instructed to write the words that he wrote, whereas Paul was not given permission to utter-forth the details.
Returning to Paul's letter of Second Corinthians chapter 12, let us re-read some verses.
II Corinthians 12:2-4:
.2I knew2 a man in Christ before fourteen years – whether in (the) body I did not know2 or outside-of the body I did not know2, God knew2 – the person-of-this-kind having been caught-away until (the) third heaven; .3and I knew2 the man of-this-kind – whether in (the) body or without the body I did not know2, God knew2 – .4that he was caught-away into the Paradise and he heard unspeakable spoken-matters which it is not permitting to man to utter-forth.
Continuing with our study:
Verses 5 and 6:
.5I will boast on behalf of the person-of-this-kind, but on behalf of myself I will boast nothing except in the weaknesses, .6for if-ever I may intend I will boast, I will not be thoughtless for I will say truth, but I spare (you); let someone not calculate into me over that-which he observes me or he hears something from me.
I will boast (speak justifiably loudly) in the interests of such a person (the sort of person whom I have described above who received sights and revelations of the Lord – the inside man, the spirit of Christ in me), but I will boast not one thing in the interests of myself (in the flesh category) except/unless within the sphere of action of my weaknesses (infirmities, times of being without strength).
In truth, if it should happen that I would intend to boast (will with active volition and desire to speak justifiable loudly), then I will boast. I will not be thoughtless (I will not not-think in my mind, not be without-thoughts, not be senseless, not be foolish) when I boast, for I will say truth (I will mindfully tell you the truth, my mind being cognizant of what I am saying which is truth, the accurate essential reality) – but I spare you (presently I am abstaining from using or doing things to/with you which may not be such a pleasant experience for any of us). He said that if it should ever happen that he would intend to boast – then he will not be thoughtless (he would boast exactly as he was instructed to boast if that should ever happen) – regarding the person of this kind (the one who received the revelations). Paul would tell the truth, however at this time he spared them because he had been told not to reveal that information.
Let somebody not calculate into me (none of you should reckon, count, compute regarding or directed-to me) in-excess-of or beyond…
Paul himself in the flesh was not the one to be credited for gaining the information or to be exalted for knowing it now.
[Reference: II Corinthians 11:30 and 31.]
Verse 7:
.7And with the super-throw of the revelations, in order that I may not be super-lifted, there was given to me a thorn by flesh: (which is) an angel of satan in order that it may buffet me in order that I may not be super-lifted.
During the period of time that I was receiving the super-throw of the revelations (the extreme greatness of the revelations regarding the third heaven and the Paradise, they were surpassing to a greater-degree, as if they were throwing or casting themselves for an extreme distance or measure beyond the limits of the revelations I had previously received), there was given to me a thorn by/via my flesh (not a literal thorn from a plant, but something pointed or sharp which causes hurt and pain, like a splinter penetrating the flesh), for the purpose and result that I would not be super-lifted (raised, taken-up and carried above and over everybody else in estimation, either by myself or by others).
Who or what was this "thorn"? An angel of satan – one of satan's angels! Yes, satan (the devil) has some angels under his command at the present time.
An angel is a spirit-being whose office and character is one of a messenger in official service via words and/or actions. The word "angel" comes from the Greek word aggello which means to tell or deliver a message and therefore an angel could be called a "messenger." Those angels who have continued to take their instructions from the only true God are also now under the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. But those angels who have refused to take their instructions from God and have instead decided to follow the devil are known as devils (devil-spirits, demons, evil, unclean or unholy spirits). The devil (satan, the snake/serpent, etc) was once one of God's angels, but he rebelled against God wanting to take God's place and he continues attempting to do so. We should also note that the Bible shows us that no human-being was or is or will be a spirit-being angel!
Satan sent one of his messengers specifically pointed at Paul. Why? Paul writes: for the purpose and result that this devil-spirit would buffet me (strike me as with clenched fists, knock me about and roughly treat me with blows rained on me bruising and hurting me) for the purpose and result that I would not be super-lifted (by anyone or anything!). If satan's angel could discredit Paul in the minds of himself and other people, then what Paul spoke or did would not be believed. Satan continues to try to hinder and put a stop to the purposes, the words, and works of the only true God.
Satan could only hurt Paul in the flesh category because the holy spirit-life within Paul could not be hurt or damaged in any way by anyone or anything. Satan so hated the way Paul was walking with and for God and the Lord Jesus Christ, that he commissioned one of his angels pointed at Paul to buffet him. However, Paul knew exactly what was going on in the spirit realm, which affected him in the fleshy, physical realm. The visions and revelations referred to in verses 2-4 were for Paul’s knowledge only; satan would not have known what the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to Paul when he revealed it to him. Paul continued to receive revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ throughout his lifetime as we know from Acts and the letters he wrote after that time 14 years previous to II Corinthians.
Now we can more-fully understand why so many terrible things used to happen to Paul while he was traveling throughout that area ministering and doing the work which God and the Lord Jesus Christ asked him to do. Satan had sent one of his angels to buffet Paul by/via his flesh in many different ways (by provoking people, or by causing something to happen, etc), as recorded in chapter 11 of this letter:
…in labors more-exceedingly, in prisons more-exceedingly, in strokes super-throwingly, in deaths often, .24I received five-times forty aside-from one (lashes) by (the) Judeans, .25three-times I was beaten-with-a-rod, once I was stoned, three-times I shipwrecked, I have done and continue to do a night-and-a-day in the deep, .26journeys-on-the-way often, dangers of rivers, dangers of robbers, dangers from genus, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in a city, dangers in a desert-place, dangers in (the) sea, dangers among lying-brothers, .27labor and travail, in sleeplessnesses often, in famine and thirst, in fastings often, in coldness and nakedness;….
However, no matter how much buffeting this devil-spirit (demon) caused Paul by using the environment, the weather, people, animals, etc, which caused hurt and damage to him in the flesh category, Paul still had holy spirit-life within him which could not be hurt or damaged or removed, and by-which he communicated to/with God and the Lord Jesus Christ. No devil-spirit or anything else could put a stop to the holy spirit that Paul had or cause him to lose it!
[Reference: Job 2:7; Isaiah 14:11-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Matthew 25:41; I Corinthians 4:11; II Thessalonians 2:4.]
Verses 8 and 9:
.8On behalf of this-thing, three-times I encouraged the Lord in order that it may depart away-from me, .9and he said and continues said to me, "My grace suffices for you for the ability is made-complete in weakness"; therefore most-delightedly rather I will boast in my weaknesses in order that the ability of Christ may tent on me;
On behalf of this thing (the angel sent by satan with specific instructions as detailed in verse 7), three-times I encouraged the Lord (I exhorted the Lord Jesus Christ) for the purpose and result that it would depart (stand-away) away from me.
Paul encouraged the Lord Jesus Christ to use his power to force satan's angel to depart from him so that it could not buffet him anymore. However, what was the Lord's answer to Paul, his apostle?
The Lord Jesus Christ told Paul, and it was still true at the time when Paul was writing this letter:
Grace is what is freely bestowed without any merit on the recipient's part; it includes reference to the attitude and quality of the one giving something favorable to another. Grace is not bestowed because somebody deserves a wage that is owed for something they said or did, nor because they begged so hard, nor because they forced the giver to give! Grace is bestowed because the giver wants to give by his own freedom of will to the recipient - it is completely unmerited favor from the giver to the recipient.
When Paul was physically without strength then he could do nothing for or by himself, and so he relied on what Christ would give to him – Christ's ability (able-power, capability) in every situation.
Paul continues: logically following-on from this, most-delightedly (to the superlative degree of sweetness, as though with relish of taste, the most pleasurable sensation) more-so I will boast (more and more I will speak justifiably loudly) within the sphere of action of and during my weaknesses for the purpose and result that Christ's able-power would tent on me (pitch or spread a tent, tabernacle, temporarily dwell in a covered sheltered place, descend and abide down upon me).
Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ promised to help him by giving him grace whenever Paul needed it to overcome anything which the devil-spirit may use to try to abuse him (whether via people, or via animals, or via the weather, etc), and then Paul would show-forth Christ's able-power in overcoming satan's angel! The Lord Jesus Christ's answer was not what Paul had encouraged him three times to do, but it was the Lord Jesus Christ's solution to Paul's request.
Isn't it interesting and informative to note that:
The Lord Jesus Christ continued to do what God wanted him to do and so gave Paul the best solution. Paul was not to be concerned about satan's angel, the messenger of satan, but he was to rely on Christ's grace and ability.
[Reference: Matthew 26:44; II Corinthians 1:1, 5:1, and 4; Philippians 4:13.]
Verse 10:
.10on-which-account I consider-it-good (to be) in weaknesses, in hurts and constraints, in persecutions and restraints on behalf of Christ, for whenever I may be weak then I am able.
On account of which (what is written in verse 9) I suppose it to be well:
…on Christ's behalf (while carrying-out my apostleship in the interests of the resurrected Anointed-one, the Messiah), because the truth is that at whatever time that I may be weak (without strength in the physical or flesh category doing the work of the Lord) then at that time I am able (I have the able-power, the capability in the holy spirit category given to me by my Lord Jesus Christ).
Paul relied on the grace that the Lord Jesus Christ promised to him during those times when the devil-spirit would buffet him, and then Christ's ability would be shown-forth as he relied on that ability. How beautiful and how helpful for Paul throughout his ministry to know the Lord's reply to his earlier request for help!
[Reference: Romans 8:35-39; II Corinthians 6:4; Philippians 4:13.]
Verses 11-13:
.11I became2 thoughtless, you constrained me, for I owe-it to be commended by you for I lack nothing of the superlative apostles; even if I am nothing .12indeed the signs of the apostle were rendered-to-work among you in all patient-endurance, both signs and wonders and abilities; .13for what is that-which you are caused-to-be-inferior over the remaining churches except that I myself did not numb you? You must graciously-forgive me this unrighteousness!
Again Paul writes relative-to the attitudes and thinking of the Corinthian and Achaian holy-people about what they considered to be thoughtful, or thoughtless, or superlative – see chapter 11 – to help them to learn and understand God and the things of God.
I have become thoughtless (come-to-pass to not-think in my mind, to be without-thoughts, senseless, foolish) – why? – emphatically you constrained me (you necessitated by force, compelled me). In truth, I am obligated to be commended by you (you are the people who should be favorably introducing me to yourselves and to everybody else, I ought to receive your commendation), for I lack nothing (I am wanting, deficient, fall-short, behind others in not one thing) relative-to the superlative apostles (the apostles who are over-and-above, surpassing to the greatest-degree, for an extreme distance or measure beyond others, the most-eminent people sent forth/away by Christ Jesus on a specific mission or assignment to others – such as Peter or John)!
Paul should not have had to write to them in the manner in which he was writing to them here by revelation; whether they considered him to be thoughtful or thoughtless or superlative – what he said and wrote to them was the truth.
Even if I am nothing (considered to be not one thing of significance from the worldly viewpoint in the physical category)…
Paul had already manifested the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, the apostle, among them, and he continued to rely on Christ's grace and ability.
He continues with a question: what is it that you are caused to be inferior (to be in a lower position and state than what you were in previously) over, beyond, or in-excess of the rest of the churches – except (unless for the fact) that emphatically I myself did not numb you (did not cause you to become torpid, I zapped none of you of energetic motion, I did not cause you to cramp from overuse)? Since this is so, it is imperative that you graciously-forgive me (bestow unmerited favor, grace me with something, and in this context it is the grace of forgiveness, willingly give forgiveness, pardon me) this unrighteousness (unjustness, injustice)!
Was Paul being unrighteous (unjust, committing wrong) by carrying-out God's and the Lord Jesus Christ's will to/with/for/among these holy-people? No, of course not. But by the use of the figure of speech “irony” he draws great emphasis to the truth that all he has done to/with/for/among them was done in accordance with God's will.
[Reference: John 10:25, 37, 38, and 14:12; Acts 14:3, 15:12, 19:11; Romans 15:17-19; I Corinthians 1:7; II Corinthians 5:20, and 11:5-9; Colossians 1:27; Hebrews 3:1.]
Verses 14-16:
.14Look!, this third-time I have prepared to go towards you and I will not numb (you), for I do not seek-after the-things of you but (I seek-after) you, for the children do not owe-it to treasure for the parents but the parents for the children, .15but most-delightedly I will spend and will be spent-out on behalf of your souls. If more-exceedingly (I am) loving1 you, am I loved1 more-inferior? .16But it must be; I did not pressure-weight you; but did I take you (by my) being-from-the-beginning every-working with deceit?
Look (behold, see, pay attention to what I am writing)!, this is the third time that I have prepared (hold in readiness, that I am ready) to go towards you, and when I arrive I will not numb you (cause you to become torpid, zap you of energetic motion, cause you to cramp from overuse). Why not? The truth is that I do not seek after the things that belong to you (I don’t look for your money, houses, jobs, titles, social status), but on the contrary, I seek after you (it's you I am seeking-after to take care of you and help you to walk with and for God during the everyday living of your lives). This is just as being in a family: the children are not obligated to treasure for the parents (to store up, lay in store for/to their parents), but on the contrary, the parents are obligated to treasure for/to their children.
The children should receive what the parents have already received by using this treasure while they are growing up. The parents give their children what is required to grow up healthily in all areas of life based on God and the things of God – while the parents are still alive, not waiting until they die!
Paul considered himself to be as a parent to the people who became Christians because of his preaching of the good-message (gospel). He had begotten them in Christ by means of the good-message as he previously wrote in his first letter to them (I Corinthians 4:14-16). It was therefore his responsibility to put in store for his children. Paul wanted to teach them, to help them, to give them the knowledge of God's Word that he had, in order to prepare them for the life ahead as they all awaited the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to gather all holy-people together with him. He wanted so much for them to grow up enough to actively partake of all that was included in his treasure, the treasure of the knowledge of God and the things of God.
Paul continues: most-delightedly (to the superlative degree of sweetness, as though with relish of taste, the most pleasurable sensation) emphatically I…
…in the interests of your souls (your physical lives, natural living evidenced by your breathing).
The holy-people already had holy spirit-life within them, and they were also supposed to live their everyday lives in accordance with it. They were children of God and so they ought to behave themselves, to live in accordance with God and with the Lord Jesus Christ.
He asks another question: if I am more-exceedingly manifesting love1 towards you (more abundantly, more than above the measure already attained by me in comparison to how I manifested God's kind of love towards you previously), then am I loved1 by you more-inferior (to a lesser degree, a lower position or state than what I was loved with God's kind of love by you previously)?
The word "love1" or the verb "to love1" comes from the Greek word agape which is God's kind of love. To love with His love means to love the same way as God loves, to manifest God's love towards another, whether it is towards God Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, yourself, your Christian neighbor, or towards anyone else. God tells His children today (all who have the spirit of Christ within us) how to Godly-love by means of His previously-revealed written Word and also via our holy spirit-life whereby we receive information from Him regarding how to love in different specific situations. It is the carrying out of God's commandments, His Word, which is the correct usage or way to manifest God's kind of love according to His will (refer to I Corinthians chapter 13 and I John 5:1-3). It is not the same as the brotherly or friendly kind of love, nor is it the same as the emotional/feelings/sexual kind of love.
But contrary to putting pressured-weight on you: did I take you (did I receive you as objects given to me to use) by my originating and continuing in the state of every-working with deceit? The word “every-working” means working in the bad sense of being prepared and ready to do anything considered to be needed towards and for the purpose of attaining one’s own personal goals and ambitions, crafty and contrary to God's will. Was I unscrupulous during all my work by using a bait, guile by stratagem or subterfuge towards you to catch you? Did I take you by doing all kinds of things deceitfully?
Some people were accusing Paul of many things from the time he started ministering among them, and so he is addressing all of these issues here in such a manner as to cause these holy-people (Christians) to consider what he is writing. He does not directly answer this question but continues on with other questions.
[Reference: Acts 20:33; I Corinthians 4:19, and 16:1-4; II Corinthians 1:6 and 15-24, 4:2, 11:3; Ephesians 4:14; Philippians 4:17.]
Verses 17 and 18:
.17(Concerning) someone of (those) whom I apostled2 towards you, I did not covetously-claim-more-than you by means of him, did I? – (no.) .18I encouraged Titus and I apostled the brother together with (him) – Titus did not covetously-claim-more-than you, did he? – (no.) We walked by the same spirit, didn't we? – (yes) – with the same footsteps, didn’t we? – (yes.)
The verb translated “to covetously claim more than someone” means: to take advantage of someone else, whereby one gets more of something than he is rightfully due in the form of some so-called 'gain' for himself, whereby he attains covetousness in the walk/behavior category.
Paul asks: in connection with any of the holy-people whom I have apostled (sent forth/away from myself on a specific mission or assignment) towards you – I did not take advantage of you by means of him, did I? The answer is not written-down here because this question is written in such a manner in the Greek construction that the answer in the mind of the reader must be a definite "No! You did not covetously claim more than us by means of any of those whom you apostled towards us."
I encouraged Titus (exhorted him, called him beside me as a concerned father or mother would call their children close to them under their arms so as to help them to do what is right) concerning you, and I sent the brother (brother in the holy spirit category; refer to II Corinthians 8:18) forth on that mission in conjunction with him. Titus didn't covetously claim more than you (take advantage of you), did he? Again the answer is not written-down here, but this question is written in such a manner in the Greek construction that the answer in the mind of the reader must be a definite "No! He did not covetously claim more than us."
The Greek construction of the following questions changes to where the unwritten answers in the mind of the reader must be a definite "Yes!" Didn't we (myself and those with me) walk (behave, conduct ourselves) by/with/in the same spirit? The unwritten answer is: yes, you did walk by the same holy spirit-life, the spirit of Christ within you. You were following the direction given to you by God and the Lord Jesus Christ via that holy spirit as you carried-out your assignments. This holy spirit is also the same spirit that every holy-person has received from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We walked with/in/by the same footsteps (footprints, metaphorically: tracked in the same tracks), didn’t we? The unwritten answer is: yes, you were walking step-by-step, tracking on those steps, the footprints which were shown to you by God and the Lord Jesus Christ on top of which to step with your feet.
[Reference: Romans 4:12; II Corinthians 2:11, 7:2, 8:6, and 16-19; I Thessalonians 4:6; Titus 1:4; I Peter 2:21.]
Verse 19:
.19Do you of-old consider that we defend-ourselves to you? We utter-forth before God in Christ, but all-things, loved-people1, (that we utter-forth are) on behalf of your edification;
Do you suppose for a while (a period of time which by now has become old) that we defend ourselves to you (that myself and those with me are speaking in defense, speaking our way out of this difficult situation, excusing ourselves giving an apology or speech which can be truthfully offered to plead our case to you as if we are in a tribunal)?
Instead of answering this question or allowing the reader to guess because there is no implied answer from the Greek construction of this question, Paul states exactly how and what he and those with him were speaking:
We speak before (down and over against, right in front of, in the sight of, in the presence of) the only true God – how? – within the sphere of action of Christ. Christ is the efficient cause as to why and what we speak. We speak in accordance with the holy spirit-life within us which is the spirit of Christ in us.
But every one of the things that we speak to you, Godly-loved people (you are loved with God's love by God, and it is also manifested towards you by myself and those with me), are in the interests of your edification (figuratively referring to the action or process of building you upwards and establishing you pertaining to God and the things of God in the walk, behavior, conduct category).
Paul and those with him were uttering-forth before God in Christ – and all the things that they uttered-forth before God in Christ were on behalf of the holy-people’s edification. They were not endeavoring to pull them down, like demolishing a building which they had previously built. They were continuing to minister to them, giving them all things in accordance with God and the Lord Jesus Christ to build them up so that they would be stronger and established, believing and obeying God's will during the everyday living of their lives.
All holy-people are God's building in the holy spirit category and this truth cannot change, but it is in the walk/behavior category that all of us need edification because this area of our lives can fluctuate.
[Reference: I Corinthians 3:9, 9:3; II Corinthians 2:17, 10:8, 13:10.]
Verses 20 and 21:
.20for I am fearful lest-somehow, having come, I may not find you (to be) people-of-the-kind I intend, and I may be found by you (to be) a person-of-the-kind you do not intend – lest-somehow (there may be among you) strife, jealousy, rages, works-for-ambitious-purposes, slanders, whisperings, puffings-up, instabilities; .21lest-again, (after) my having come, my God may humble me towards you, and I may mourn many-people (who would be) the (people) having sinned-beforehand2 and not having repented on the uncleanness and fornication and licentiousness which they practiced.
Paul continues by letting them know about himself so that they would be aware of the situation that was developing, which he wanted to put a stop to, and for them to take precautions to avoid it and protect themselves.
In truth, I am afraid (not 'scared to death' but there is fright within me) relative-to the walk/behavior category: lest in some manner (so that in no way), after I have come to you…
Let me explain: I am writing this lest in some manner (so that in no way) there would be the following in evidence among you:
If you were manifesting these things, then I would not find you to be people of the kind I intend.
And, I am writing this lest again it would happen (so that it would not happen on the other hand), after or when I will have come among you in Corinth and Achaia, that…
If God would humble Paul towards them and, because some of them would not have repented, he were to mourn when he arrived, then he would be found by them to be a person of the kind that they did not intend, that they would not want him to be towards them.
[Reference: Psalm 41:7; Romans 1:29-32, 2:8, 13:13 and 14; I Corinthians 1:11, 3:3, 4:6, 7, 5:1, 2, 6:18. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]
Paul continues in the next chapter….
