2 Corinthians 11:16-33
Q.1. Why did Paul boast about his sacrifices for Christ? How did his credentials compare with his Corinthian critics? Are you surprised about his extensive trials? – (2 Cor.11:16-27)
Sadly, Paul felt that he had to resort to the boastful tactics of his opponents, because some of the Corinthians Christians were swayed by such arguments (2 Cor.11:16-20). He accepted that the Lord would never have stooped to this level (2 Cor.11:17). Nevertheless, his credentials were in no way inferior to these Judaizers who were undermining the church at Corinth – 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? I am also. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if insane), I more so (2 Cor.11:22-23). Perhaps the most challenging aspect of Paul’s list of sufferings for Christ, was that the apostle was not surprised by these trials, and readily accepted them. Though he was the great apostle to the Gentiles, he was not shielded from numerous hardships. He claimed that he had endured – 23 … far more labours, far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labour and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure (2 Cor.11:23-27). He had willingly suffered all these things for the sake of the Gospel.
Q.2. How did Paul reveal his shepherd’s heart? What was unusual about Paul’s boast? What happened at Damascus? Why did he focus on this trial? – (2 Cor.11:28-33)
Paul had also been concerned about the churches that he had established. He felt it acutely when members were led into sin (2 Cor.11:28-29). However, if he was to boast, it would be about his own weaknesses. He recalled what for him was the most humiliating experience of all when – 32Â In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, 33Â and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands (2 Cor.11:32-33). Paul, the proud Pharisees, had journeyed to Damascus, to arrest Christians and have them killed. However, he had retreated in shame from his mission, in fear of his own life (c.f. Acts 9:1-2, 19-25).