2 Corinthians 11:22-33
Suffering for Christ
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
Context
- Why does Paul share all these sufferings? (2 Corinthians 1:4-10, 4:8-12, 6:4-6, 12:10, Philippians 3:10)
Reflection
- How could Paul speak of greater labors & more imprisonments? (1 Corinthians 4:12, 15:10, Acts 9:15-16, 14:19, 16:19-40, 18:3, 1 Thessalonians 2:9)
- Why would a believer be beaten & in peril? (Matthew 10:17, Mark 13:9, Acts 14:22, 16:22, 23, 22:20, 26:11, 2 Timothy 3:12)
- What kept Paul up at night? Why such a deep concern for the Church (Acts 20:7-12, 31, 2 Thessalonians 3:7, 8, Romans 10:1)
Testimony Time
- Is what I’m living for worth suffering or dying for?
- What sacrifices will you make to spread the gospel? (Acts 20:24, 1 Corinthians 9:22, 23, Philippians 1:21, Hebrews 11:25)
