Suffering For Christ
January 16, 2021
Commentary
Some of Paul’s religious assailants in Corinth were no doubt Jews. They hurled the charge at Paul that he was no true Hebrew. They said he had apostatized from the faith and that he could not possibly be a faithful minister of God. What Paul does here is demonstrate the depth of his commitment by delineating the sufferings and trials he endured because of it. First, he insists that he is indeed an Israelite and a genuine minister (vv. 21-23). Then he launches into a description of his personal experiences as an apostle. Paul proceeds to describe his own experiences and consecration to God (vv. 24-25). As examples of dedication and privilege his list include dangers, pain, and pressures from all sides (vv. 26-28). The apostle is deeply concerned about the weaker brethren, and he “burned” with indignation when he thought of those who would lead them astray (vv. 29-31). Paul ended this narration of his sufferings by telling of his humiliating experience in Damascus, where he was smuggled out of the city in a basket (vv. 32-33).
While it is true that any traveler could have suffered these things, Paul endured them because of his love for Christ and for the Christians. Each trial left its mark on his life, and yet he just kept moving on, serving the Lord. If the Lord places you in a position of leadership and authority, remember Paul’s kind of empathy and concern for people.
Application
The trials and hurts I experience will build character in my life, demonstrate my faith in the Lord and prepare me to further serve Him.
2 Corinthians 11:22– 33 (NET)
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times. 24 Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with a rod. Once I received a stoning. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea. 26 I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers, 27 in hard work and toil, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing. 28 Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with indignation? 30 If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying. 32 In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to arrest me, 33 but I was let down in a rope-basket through a window in the city wall, and escaped his hands.