2 Corinthians 12:2-5

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.

(v2-5, NIV)

Paul begins to tell about a revelation 14 years ago. It almost seems weird that Paul is bringing this up. He simply says and nothing more. It's almost like he's putting it out there to say it is something he could lengthen on about puffing himself up, but he does not. A revelation like this is quite amazing and probably something people would agree is worthy of boasting about.

Paul is now going to move towards boasting about his weakness. He won't boast about this revelation, but he will boast about his weakness. His opponents must think this to be counter-intuitive or an oxymoron. How can you boast about your weakness? That isn't something people boast about. Superman doesn't go around telling everyone what kryptonite does to him, he hides that fact. Most people don't go around telling everybody about things they're ashamed of in their lives. But as we'll see, it is something worthy of boasting in.