Questioning Paul
Chapter 4
part 4
Paul is doing such a great job incriminating himself, let’s stick around a little longer to see how this plays out. After all, this is serious business. This psychotic megalomaniac bamboozled billions of people with this soaring rhetoric.
"It is necessary to brag (kauchaomai dei), not advantageous (ou symphero – not beneficial). But now (de) as affirmation (men – indeed, surely and truly), I will go (erchomai – I will come) onto supernatural visions (eis optasia – to what appears to the mind by supernatural means) and (kai) revelations (apokalypsis – revealing disclosures, uncovering and unveilings) of the Lord (ΚΥ – a placeholder used by Yahowsha’s Disciples and in the Septuagint to convey ‘edon, the Upright One, or Yahowah’s name)." (2 Corinthians 12:1)
I stand corrected. Paul has finally conveyed something that is true. While only an idiot would brag about doing something that is disadvantageous, Paul has provided plenty of proof that his visions and revelations came from the Lord. And since the Lord is Satan, that indeed is detrimental.
In that this soliloquy is condemning in the extreme, as we make our way through it, let’s also consider the Christian spin of Sha’uwl’s stunning confessions. Here is what was scribed in the King James Authorized Version: "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord." Francis Bacon, the egotistical occultist and humanist who guided the publication of the King James Bible on behalf of his pontiff, purposefully deceived Christians with this rendering. Turns out it was an inaccurate paraphrase of the Latin Vulgate: "If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed) but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord."
Always ready to put lipstick on their favorite swine, the authors of the New Living Translation published: "This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord."
One way to avoid lying I suppose is to say that you can’t remember. But when they are allegedly transformative events in your life, encounters which provide your authority, that won’t fly. Nonetheless...
"I am aware of (oida – I know, recognize, recall, or acknowledge) a man (anthropos) in (en) Christo (ΙὨ – a placeholder used by Yahowsha’s Disciples and in the Septuagint to convey Yahowsha’, meaning Yahowah Saves) before fourteen years (pro etos dekatessares) whether if (eite) in (en) body (soma – as a physical being) I do not know (ouk oida – I am unaware and do not recall) or if (eite) outside the body (ektos tou somatos – disassociated from a physical being) I do not recall or remember (ouk oida – I do not know, I am unaware, and I will not acknowledge).
The God (ΘΣ – a placeholder used by Yahowsha’s Disciples and in the Septuagint to convey ‘elohym, the Almighty), He has known and has remembered (oiden – he has recognized, recalled, and acknowledged) having been violently seized and snatched away (harpazo – having been viciously attacked, ravenously plundered, forcibly possessed, harshly controlled, carried away, swindled, and extorted) like this (ton toioutos – in this kind of way) until (heos – as far as) the third heaven (tritos ouranos)." (2 Corinthians 12:2)
So if he cannot remember how he encountered this individual, whether he was out of his body or just out of his mind, how does he know whom he met or what he was told? And if he can’t recall what happened, why did he provide three detailed, albeit conflicting, accounts for Luke to record in Acts? Also, if God can be counted upon to remember either, then there would be no reason for Paul to ask us to forget what He said. Or should we consider all of this deranged musings and hallucinations – the product of an insane mind?
While it is a minor point, Paul seems to have forgotten his prior testimony, leaving off the three years he claims that he spent in Arabia getting his message approved by God, and his subsequent march through Syria and Cilicia. And while that would mean that he lied about how he claimed that God, Himself, had prepared him for his mission, it means that he went directly from killing to preaching, one week to the next. Also, if you are doing some recalculations, even with the passage of only fourteen years, it still puts Paul in Damascus a year before Aretas was given dominion over the city by Rome.
And speaking of psychotic delusions, since God is the subject of both "oiden – He has known" and "harpazo – having been violently seized and snatched away," in the sequential application of verbs, this means that "God, Himself, knows and acknowledges that He has been viciously attacked, plundered, possessed, controlled, swindled, and extorted in this way." And once again, it is true. Sha’uwl and Satan have attacked God, snatching away that which is most dear to Him, His Covenant, swindling Him of His Torah, and plundering Him of countless children.
Sha’uwl, the wolf in sheep’s clothing, in a previous letter to the Thessalonians, associated the same term with his false prophecy regarding the "harpazo – rapture," the vicious snatching away that he errantly predicted would occur during his lifetime. So he remained fixated upon the characteristics so often ascribed to wolves: violently seizing and snatching away the most vulnerable prey, viciously and ravenously attacking.
It is interesting here that Yahowah’s description of the Taruw’ah Harvest of souls known to Christians as "the rapture" (from Mattanyah 24:40), is transcribed using the Greek word paralambano, which means "to receive at an appointed time, to welcome and accept, to gather individuals, bringing them together, and joining with them." It is from para, meaning "with, beside, and near, speaking of proximity and association," and lambano, "to take someone by the hand, to remove them, and to carry them away." But speaking of this same event, Sha’uwl used harpazo (in 1 Thessalonians 4:17), which speaks of being "seized and violently snatched away, to attack, to gain control over, to possess, to physically harass and injure, to carry away by force, to spoil, and to secretly steal, plunder, and loot." The verbs paralambano and harpazo describe the difference between how the Spirit of Light and the spirit of darkness operate.
Also relevant, there are two "shamaym – heavens" according to Yahowah. The first is comprised of everything from the earth’s atmosphere to the furthest galaxies, and thus everything comprising the physical universe. The other is the spiritual abode of God, also known as His home. By why let God’s testimony get in the way of a good story?
Once again, the KJV: "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven" copied the LV: "I know a man in Christ: above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven." NLT: "I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows."
Having invested six years of my life to studying everything which is known about Muhammad and his formation of Islam, I realize that he made the same pronouncement, albeit his claim to have flown upon a winged ass was more colorful. Even Muhammad’s initial confrontation with Satan’s envoy in the cave was described identically to harpazo. Muhammad said that he was "forcibly and violently seized by the spirit," that it "attacked and controlled him," and that it "possessed" him. The only difference is that Muhammad went from the "third heaven" to the "seventh heaven," where he met Allah, who told him that he wanted to be "mooned," 50 times a day, with repeated religious prostrations. (These parallel stories are revealed in the "With Whom Am I Speaking" and "Delusions of Grandeur" chapters of Prophet of Doom.)
So that is why this all reminds me of Muhammad’s "I cannot say for sure. Allah knows best." And along those lines, the Islamic Hadith and Qur’an also speak of multiple heavens. According to the Islamic scriptures, Adam, men with camel mouths with rocks emerging from their behinds, in addition to tortured women hanging from their breasts, lived adjoining the first heaven—along with a damsel with red lips who pleased Muhammad much. Issa (the Qur’anic "Jesus") and Yahya (the Qur’anic "John") were relegated to the second heaven. Rising above Yahowsha’ and Yahowchanan in Allah’s third heaven, Sha’uwl would have met "Joseph," at least according to Muhammad. Climbing the prophetic ladder, the Qur’an and Hadith reveal that Sha’uwl would have encountered Enoch and then Aaron in the fourth and fifth heavens. According to Muhammad, the sixth heaven was occupied by the man whose Torah Sha’uwl will renounce: Moseh. Then in the seventh heaven, we find the Pen, Allah’s House, angels performing prostration prayers, a tree whose fruit resembled clay jugs, and the headwaters of the Euphrates and Nile Rivers. Muhammad’s myths were more imaginative than Paul’s.
Although from a stylistic perspective, the out of body experience of referring to oneself as "anthropos – a man" is pretty weird...
"And (kai) I recall (oida – I know and remember, I am aware and acknowledge) as such (ton toioutos – like this) a man (anthropos) whether if (eite) in (en) body (soma – as a physical being) I do not know (ouk oida – I am unaware and do not recall) or if (eite) without the body (choris tou somatos – apart from a physical being) I do not recall or remember (ouk oida – I do not know, I am unaware, and I will not acknowledge).
The God (ΘΣ – a placeholder used by Yahowsha’s Disciples and in the Septuagint to convey ‘elohym, the Almighty), he has known and has remembered (oiden – he has recognized, recalled, and acknowledged) (2C12:3) because (oti) he was viciously attacked and plundered, harshly controlled and extorted (harpazo – He was violently seized and snatched away, forcibly controlled, carried away, and swindled) approaching (eis – inside and with reference to) the paradise (ton paradeisos – a Babylonian / Persian Sanskrit word for garden enclosure and hunting preserve) and he heard (kai akouo) words which cannot be spoken (arretos rhema – unspeakable and unsaid statements or matters which cannot be expressed; literally the unexpressed words) which it is not permissible, possible, or lawful (a ouk exesti – which ought not be obligatory; literally out of existence) for a man (anthropos) to speak (laleo)." (2 Corinthians 12:4)
There are no physical beings in the spiritual realm. Bodies would be useless and counterproductive. But beyond this, how is it that we are to believe someone who cannot remember fundamental aspects of his alleged encounters with God?
From a purely grammatical perspective, there would be no reason to conclude that there is a transition between God and man with reference to the successive presentation of "the God," "he who has known," and "he was viciously attacked" approaching paradise. So while Christians would tell you that it is Paul who is being snatched away and that it is Paul who heard that which could not be spoken, there is no justification for any of that. It is as impossible to support as is "hearing words which are unspeakable."
Not recognizing that an "unspeakable word" is an oxymoron, and not realizing that Yahowsha’ is the Word, and thus the place Paul went is the opposite of paradise, the KJV wrote: "And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." LV: "And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth): That he was caught up into paradise and heard secret words which it is not granted to man to utter." There is nothing "secret" about arrhetos. It is simply "the negation of rhetoric," which speaks of "the nullification of effective communication." It is the antithesis of "studying persuasive written texts" such as the Torah." NLT: "Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell." They all missed the point: Satan took Sha’uwl to the place where the Word does not exist, and where its benefit has been nullified. It is the same place Paul has taken Christians. Today they call this godless place a "church."
Loosely translated, he just told us: "I can’t say what I didn’t hear." It reminds me of the old line: "I realize that you think that you understand what you thought I said but I’m not sure that you recognize that what you heard is not what I meant." So why bother?
But to Paul, hearing what he didn’t hear and saying what he could not say was reason for him to brag which he did while not boasting, unless self-glorification was in incapacitating timidity. I kid you not.
"On behalf of such things like this (hyper tou toioutos), I will actually boast (kauchaomai – I will brag, engaging in self-glorification, expressing pride in myself) for the sake of it (hyper). But myself (de emautou – so on my own accord) I will not brag (ou kauchaomai – I will not engage in self-glorification) if not (ei un) in the (en tais) incapacitating inadequacy of corruption and perversion (astheneia – infirmity and illness borne out of dishonesty, timidity and limitations associated with fraud, weakness and sickness derived from defiling and profaning, inadequacy and lack of insights caused by polluting and sullying the established conditions)." (2 Corinthians 12:5)
As I have promised, the transition is complete. Paul is not only associating "astheneia – the incapacitation of perversion and the inadequacy of corruption" to himself, bragging about the sickening fraud he is perpetrating. But other than to say that a person would have to be insane to trust this man, since I am unaware of any way to make any sense of any of this, let’s move on to the payoff line – the reason we took this tour through Paul’s mind. So while we’ve considered what follows previously, this will be the first time that we’ve approached Paul’s astonishing admission to have been demon-possessed from his perspective. He is on the cusp of explaining how he became "astheneia – inadequate, corrupt, incompetent, perverted, incapacitated, and defiled.
This has been a gut-wrenching journey to a place more horrible than I could have imagined. All I can hope for at this point is to keep as many souls as possible from following Sha’uwl to Satan’s Abyss – and that is why we are continuing to evaluate this material. KJV: "Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities." LV: "For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish: for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me." NLT: "That experience is worth boasting about, but I'm not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses."
Next we discover what incapacitated Paul’s ability to glorify himself, and learn what made him ill. Although to be fair, all attempts at the former failed, and with regard to the latter, it made billions spiritually sick.
"Because (gar – for indeed) if (ean) I might want (thelo – I may decide, desire, propose, or enjoy) to brag (dauchaomai – to boast or to glorify myself) truthfully (aletheia – honestly), I would not be (ouk esomai) unjustified or imprudent (aphron – acting rashly without reason, inappropriate or foolish).
For then (gar – because) I will say (ero) I am presently abstaining (pheidomai – I am currently refraining). But (de) someone (tis) not (un) approaching (eis) me (eme) might ponder (logizomai – may have reason to logically conclude, embrace an opinion, or hold a view) beyond (hyper – over and above and because of) what (o) he sees (blepo – he will be able to view and discern) in me (me), or (e) something (ti) he hears (akouo – he listens to, receives, pays attention to) from (ek) me (emou), (12:6) and of the (kai te – so with regard to the) extraordinary superiority of the (hyperbole ton – preeminence and exceedingly great, transcendent, magnificent, and awe-inspiring aspects of the exaggerated and overstated) revelations (apokalypsis – disclosures with the appearance of instructions concerning the unknown).
Therefore (dio – it should be self evident), in order that (hina – for the purpose that) I not become overly proud and be lifted up (me hyperairomai – I not become conceited, exalting myself beyond what would be justified, so as not to be insolent, audaciously lifting myself above the source of my inspiration), there was given to me (didomi ego – there was deposited upon me, allowing me to experience, there was granted and entrusted to me for my advantage) a sharp goad and troubling thorn (skolops – a sharp pointed prod used to control dumb animals, featuring poisonous scorpion’s stinger) in the body (te sarx – incorporated into the flesh and as an aspect of my physical, animal, and human nature), a messenger (angelos – a spiritual envoy or demonic spirit) of Satan (Satan – a transliteration of satan, Hebrew for the Adversary), in order to (hina – so as to) strike and restrain me (kolaphizo – adversely harm, beat, and torment me, violently mistreating me to painfully afflict, attack, buffet, and batter me; from kolazo – to prune, control, check, curb, and restrain me), so that as a result (hina) at the present time there is the possibility that I might not be conceited, currently exalting myself beyond what would be justified, lifting myself up (me hyperairomai – I may not be overly proud nor excessively exalted or lifted up, overdoing it (scribed in the present tense, meaning at this time, in the passive voice, affirming that this is being done to him, with the subjective mood indicating that this outcome is a mere possibility, and in the first person singular, thereby identifying Paulos as the one being possessed and controlled)." (2 Corinthians 12:7)
"Skolops – a sharp pointed stick used as a prod, a stinger, and a scorpion" is akin to Paul’s use of "kentron – a sharp pointed stick used to prod animals and control them, the poisonous stinger of a scorpion" in Acts 26:14, where Paul says that he was told by Dionysus, in the guise of "Jesus," that it would be hard to rebel against him. And that means that Acts 26:14, which describes Paul’s meeting with the flashing light on the road to Damascus where he was told that he could not repel, and Second Corinthians 12:7, which describes the way Satan possessed and controlled Paul, are related. The common denominator is a false prophet and a wannabe god.
Since this passage is so incredibly incriminating, you might be interested to know that Greek words which are related to "skolops – a sharp pointed prod," include skopeo: "something dangerous to be on the lookout for, to notice by being carefully observant, and to be very concerned about." Skopos: "a goal toward which someone is being directed, striving for a specific purpose." Skorpizo: "to scatter, disperse, and separate." Skorpois: "a supernatural demonic power and stinging scorpion." Skotia: "a dark and evil realm." Skotos: "the abode of evil and demonic spirits." And skolios: "to be unscrupulous and morally corrupt, to be perverse and deceitful, and to warp a path making what was once straight crooked."
Here are the Christian interpretations of 2 Corinthians 12:6-7 for your consideration. KJV: "For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." LV: "For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish: for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me. And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satanae/Satan, to buffet me." NLT: "If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it, because I don't want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud." The most influential Catholic translation, the "Authorized" Protestant translation, and the most recent Evangelical translation, all say that "a messenger from Satan" was used to control Paul. And yet not one Christian in a million associates Paul’s "thorn in the flesh" with Satan, or with demon possession. Their religion has blinded them.
And now speaking directly to the Lord of demons, Satan, himself, Sha’uwl wrote...
"Regarding this (hyper toutou – because of and about this), three times (tris) of the Lord (ton kupion – of the supernatural master who controls a person, the owner of slaves to whom someone belongs, the one who lords over and exercises supremacy, and the power to possess), I asked (parakaleo – I begged, urged, and pleaded) in order that (ina) it might be repelled (aphistamai – at some point it might possibly leave and be kept away, departing (aorist active subjunctive)), separated from me (apo emou – out of and disassociated from me)." (2 Corinthians 12:8)
I don’t suspect that Paulos much liked being demon-possessed. It must have been maddening and manipulative. So he pleaded with his spiritual accomplice, begging Satan to "aphistamai – to repel" the demon, not only "making it leave" but also "keeping it away. He knew, of course, that every "messenger of Satan," and thus every "demon," served the Adversary and thus would obey its Lord. And just as arrhetos was the "negation of the Word," aphistemi is the antithesis of Yahowsha’s purpose: "to stand up for us so that we might stand with Him." Therefore, to be aphistemi is to be separated from God’s purpose.
If you are looking for God’s help, if you what Him to respond to you, that will never happen if you call Yahowah or Yahowsha’, "Lord." This is not only Satan’s title, and the name God uses to identify the Adversary, in that the name Ba’al means "Lord," it is the antithesis of the way our Heavenly Father wants us to relate to Him in the Family Covenant. This is why Yahowsha’ said:
"Not any one saying to Me, ‘Lord, Lord (kyrie – master, owner, one who rules over, controls, or enslaves),’ will actually as a result enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but by contrast the one presently acting upon the purpose and desire of My Father, the One in the heavens. (7:21)
Many will say to Me in that specific day, ‘Lord, Lord, in Your name, did we not actively speak genuinely inspired utterances, and in Your name, we drove out demons, and in Your name, many mighty and miraculous things, we made and did.’ (7:22)
And then I will profess to them that because I never at any time knew you, you all must depart from Me, those of you who are opposed to the Towrah." (Mattanyah / Yah’s Gift / Matthew 7:23)
Demon possession is yet another thing Paul and Muhammad had in common. And that is relevant because the Islamic Qur’an and Hadith reveal that Allah was modeled after Satan. Describing the vicious bout with Satan in a cave outside Mecca, Muhammad’s Hadith report: "The commencement of divine inspiration to Allah’s Messenger was in the form of dreams that came true like a bright light. The prophet loved the seclusion of a cave near Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’ Then the angel caught me forcefully and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more….Then the Apostle returned from that experience; the muscles between his neck and shoulders were trembling, and his heart was beating severely. He went to Khadija and cried: "Cover me! Cover me!’ She did until his fear subsided. He said, "What’s wrong with me? I am afraid that something terrible has happened to me." (Bukhari’s Hadith: Volume 1, Book 1, Number 3 & Volume 6, Book 60, Number 478)
"The truth came upon him while he was in a cave. The first form of revelation was a true vision in sleep. He did not see any vision but it came like the break of dawn." "The Prophet said, I had been standing, but fell to my knees and crawled away, my shoulders trembling. When the terror had left me, he came to me and said, ‘You are the Messenger of Allah." Muhammad said, ‘I had been thinking of hurling myself off a mountain cliff… I feared for my life.’" (Tabari’s History: Volume 1, page 67)
"Aisha said that when Allah desired to honor Muhammad, the first sign of prophethood was a vision of brightness of day shown to him." "He stayed seeing and hearing things as long as it pleased Allah. Then Gabriel came to him with the gift of Allah’s Grace." (Ishaq’s Sira: page 105)
"He pressed me so tightly that I was near death. When I thought that I was nearly dead, he said: ‘Read in the name of your Lord who created man of coagulated blood. Read! Your Gracious Lord taught by the pen.’" "I remained gazing at him and that distracted me from committing suicide. I could not move. Khadija sent her messengers in search of me and they gained the high ground above Mecca so I came to her and sat by her thigh. I said, ‘Woe is me. I am possessed.’ ‘I’m afraid I’m going out of my mind and being possessed by an evil spirit.’" (Ishaq’s Sira: page 106)
"In the beginning of the Messenger’s prophetic mission he used to spend a month every year in religious retreat on Hira. This was part of the practice of Tahannuth in which the Quraysh used to engage during the Jahiliyyah [period of ignorance before Muhammad’s recitals]. Tahannuth means self-justification." (Tabari’s History: Volume 1, page 70)
Then, at the end of his life we find: "Aisha, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), reported: ‘Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) left my apartment during the night. Then he came and he saw me in an agitated state. He said: "Aisha, what has happened to you? Do you feel jealous?" I said: "How can it be that a girl like me would not feel jealous in regard to a husband like you?" Thereupon Allah’s Messenger said: "It is your devil who has come to you." I said: "Allah’s Messenger, is there a devil with me?" He said: "Yes." I said: "Is there a devil attached to everyone?" He said: "Yes." I said: "Allah’s Messenger, is there a devil attached to you also?" He said: "Yes. But my Lord has helped me against my devil and as such I am absolutely safe from his mischief."’" (Muslim’s Hadith Chapter 14, Book 39, Number 6759)
And by way of confirmation: "Allah’s Messenger said: ‘There is none amongst you with whom is not an attaché from amongst the jinn, a devil.’ The Companions said: ‘Allah’s Messenger, is there a devil with you too.’ Thereupon he said: ‘Yes, but Allah helps me against him so I am safe from his hand and he does not command me but for good.’" (Muslim’s Hadith Chapter 14, Book 39, Number 6757)
Evidently, Muhammad’s and Sha’uwl’s Lord didn’t trust his messengers any more than we should, because in both case the Devil was unwilling to remove the demon he had used to possess and control them. So now completely and forever estranged from Yahowah, Satan offered Paulos an attractive pagan substitute...
"And he has actually spoken this to me (kai eiphon moi), ‘It is sufficient and satisfactory for you (arkeo soi – it is currently enough and presently adequate, so you should be content to possess) my (mou) Grace (Charis – the name of the lovely and lascivious Greek goddesses of merriment, known to the Romans as the Gratia, from which "Grace" is derived), because (gar) the ability and power (dynamis – the mighty miracles, supernatural capability, authority, and strength) in (en) weakness and sickness (astheneia – illness, timidity, inadequacy, infirmity, limited insights, and incapacitation, being frail, feeble, profaned, and defiled as a result of perversions and corruptions) is fulfilling and complete (teleo – is brought to fruition).’
Gladly (hedeos – with delight), therefore (oun), more willingly and readily (mallon – to a greater degree) I will boast (kauchaomai – I will brag, expressing pride in myself, glorifying myself) in the (en tais) lack of insights and inadequacy derived from corruptions (astheneia – weakness, illness, timidity, sickness, infirmity, incapacitation, being frail, feeble, polluted, profane, and defiled through perversions) of mine (mou) in order that (hina) it might take up residence (episkenoo – it may reside and indwell) on me (epi eme) the (e) ability and power (dynamis – the mighty miracles, supernatural capability, authority, and strength) of the (tou) Christou (ΧΡΥ – a placeholder used by Yahowsha’s Disciples and in the Septuagint to convey Ma’aseyah)." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Translating Jerome’s Latin, the King James Bible published verses 8and 9 as saying: "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." LV: "For which thing, thrice I besought the Lord that it might depart from me. And he said to me: My gratia/grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity." NLT: "Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’"
Satan is a proponent of the Graces, which is why he called the Charis his own. Cavorting naked, they were the principal pagan proponents of lust and licentiousness, after all. And considering Paul’s admission to uncontrollable cravings in this regard in Romans 7, Satan’s declaration that the aphrodisiacal Charis / Gartia were "arkeo – sufficient and satisfactory" for Paulos, and that "he should be content" with the goddesses’ contribution to his "astheneia – sickening weakness" is creepy. And the idea that he is disclosing this to us, even boasting about it, is insane.
Sha’uwl has become truly and genuinely fixated with "astheneia – inadequacy and infirmity, being corrupt and sick, being frail and feeble, incapacitated and weak, lacking insights and being defiled as a result of corruptions and perversions." This is doubly bizarre because God heals, perfects, empowers, and enriches His Covenant children. In fact, this is the stated purpose of the Covenant. Our imperfections and infirmities, our relative weakness and lack of insights are resolved. So why is Paul wallowing in his? More troubling still, Paulos is writing about his "astheneia – illness" while simultaneously admitting that he is both insane and demon-possessed. And even if a Christian apologist might suggest that this is Paul’s way of demonstrating humility, that becomes laughable in the midst of constant bragging. And speaking of being hypocritical, how can a man who has the ability to survive multiple deaths, drowning, lashings, stoning, et al, be "astheneia – inadequate and weak?"
The Disciple Mattanyah describes Yahowsha’ defining astheneia for us by referencing Yasha’yah / Isaiah 53:4 in Hebrew and then having a scribe translate choly, the word he wrote, into the Greek astheneia. So first, let’s consider the defining statement regarding the work of the Ma’aseyah. Yahowah, speaking through Yasha’yahuw, predicted:
"Surely (‘aken – truly and indeed, emphasizing this point) our perversions which have made us ill (choly – our fraud-borne sickness and wounds; from chalah / chalal – becoming weak through corruption, becoming sick through pollution, becoming diseased by being sullied and defiled, and becoming grieved by profaning and dishonoring that which is set apart, treating it as common, corrupting the truth while violating the established conditions), He (huw’) lifted up and completely carried away (nasa’ – endured (the qal stem encourages a literal interpretation of actual events while the perfect conjugation addresses that which is total and complete)), and our mental anguish and physical suffering (wa mak’ob – our grief, sorrow, and pain), He bore and sustained them (cabal – incurred them). And yet we (wa ‘anachnuw) assumed and considered Him (chashab – imagined, thought, calculated, determined, imputed, and devised a plan to reckon Him) touched and struck (naga’ nakah – reached and beaten, contacted and destroyed) by God (‘elohym), even (wa – and also) responding and answering through affliction (‘anah – replying by being distressed)." (Yasha’yah / Salvation is from Yahowah / Isaiah 53:4)
So now, based upon what we just discovered, the Greek translation of Mattanyah’s testimony should read:
"The purpose was to fulfill (opos pleroo – the intended result was to completely proclaim, providing meaning which prompts thinking, and to perform as promised) the statement having been spoken (to rethen – the word having been prophetically declared in advance) through (dia) Yasha’yahuw (Esaiou – a transliteration of the Hebrew name Yasha’yahuw – Salvation if from Yahowah), the prophet and inspired spokesman (tou prophetou), saying (legontos – communicating to instruct): ‘Himself (autos), the perversions which have made us ill (tas astheneia emon – the inadequacies and infirmities caused by our corruptions, the sicknesses borne of our dishonesty, the weakness which results from our tendency to defile, to profane, and to dishonor that which is set apart as common, the incapacitation, weakness, and lack of insights derived from our willingness to pollute and sully the established conditions), He received and took hold of (lambano – He grasped, acquired, and relationally experienced), and the (kai tas) mental anguish and physical suffering (nosos – sicknesses, diseases, and illnesses, grief, sorrow, and pain), He removed and bore (bastazo – He accepted, endured, provided for, and carried away).’" (Mattanyah / Yahowah’s Gift / Matthew 8:17)
If Yahowah told the truth, if Yahowsha’ performed as promised, and if Sha’uwl capitalized upon what God has done, why, pray tell, is he still "astheneia – inadequate, infirmed, incapacitated, and weak as a result of perversions and corruptions?" If you are a Christian, if you are prone to believe Paul, don’t move on with your life until you can answer this question.
And since Paul is continually boasting about his astheneia, ought we not be concerned that it is psychotic to be proud of being: sick as a result of one’s perversions, ill because of one’s corruptions, weak due to one’s dishonesty, and inadequate as a consequence of one’s willingness to defile and profane the Word of God?