12:9 my power is made perfect in weakness. God will accomplish His purposes without taking from His servant the thorn that seems to hinder him. Despite human weaknesses, God’s grace attains His purposes in a fallen world. This promise from God no doubt gave Paul strength and encouragement in subsequent sufferings. Paul shortly ties the general principle to its source—the cross of Christ (13:4). Paul’s whole response to attacks on his apostolic authority has been patterned consciously on Christ, and Him crucified, and not on the so-called “Jesus” and the different “gospel” that his opponents have foisted on the erring Corinthians (11:4 note).