QuickThoughts: Paul’s Suffering

📘 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

Between his conversion and his second letter to the church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul truly suffered for Christ.

He had been…

• Imprisoned many times
• Beaten exceedingly
• Lashed 39 times by the Jews on 5 separate occasions
• Beaten with rods 3 times
• Stoned
• Shipwrecked 3 times, left adrift for a full day before rescue in one instance
• Often left without shelter, food, and water

He had been in constant danger of death in the cities, the wilderness, and at sea from…

• Rivers
• Robbers
• His own people and Gentiles
• False believers

On top of all of this, he had the immense personal responsibility of stewarding the churches he planted, rebuking false teaching, and addressing sin and immorality in the church.

Paul’s Christian life was an arduous, dangerous, and humiliating one! By all accounts, he appeared very weak to the world, always on the defensive, mocked and scorned at every turn.

And yet he had reason to boast! Not in his strength, but in his weakness. It was this weakness that showcased the strength of God; through all of Paul’s apparent failures, the gospel message was continuing to spread like wildfire, hearts were being changed, and multitudes were coming to repentance and faith in Christ!

Brethren, be not discouraged by your weakness and apparent lack of success. Be faithful to our Lord’s command to go and make disciples. Sow; He will reap His harvest.

📘 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 LSB

Rejoice in your suffering and, like Paul, be content:

📘 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions and hardships, for the sake of Christ, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10 LSB