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?
In 2 Corinthians 11:23-29, Paul gives an account of all the sufferings he endured for Christ. He is telling the church these things to bring honor and glory to God who enabled him to endure that suffering. Paul is explaining how through his experiences he is a minister of Christ. We will go through Paul’s reasoning through these verses.
[1] “In labors more abundant” - Paul is a minister of Christ because he worked harder than any of the other apostles for Christ’s sake.
1 Corinthians 15:10 - But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Other prominent apostles of the time saw being a minister of Christ as a privilege. They thought that with more prominence, they would have to do less work and others would serve them instead.
[2] “In stripes above measure” - Paul is a minister of Christ because he was beaten many times for Christ’s sake
Paul was beaten by both the Jews and the Romans
The Jews beat him 5 different times with 39 stripes. In Deuteronomy 25:3 (Forty blows he may give him and no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many blows above these, and your brother be humiliated in your sight.), God commanded the Israelites that they should not go above 40 stripes when punishing someone. So, the Israelite leaders restricted the number of stripes to 39 so that they would not accidentally exceed the amount God had commanded.
The Romans used rods made of birch wood to beat their victims. They were usually beat all over their body. But, sometimes the Romans would tie their victims upside down and beat the bottoms of their feet until the bones broke.
[3] “In prisons more frequently” - Paul is a minister of Christ because he spent a lot of time in prison for Christ’s sake.
We don’t have a record of all the times that Paul was imprisoned. But, from what we can find there were at least 3 times.
Paul was arrested during his second missionary journey when he went to Philippi. This was after he healed a demon-possessed slave girl who had the power of prophecy. The slave girl’s masters stirred up the town and had Paul and Silas arrested.
Paul was prophesied to be arrested in Acts 21:11 (When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’“). This occurred after he completed the third missionary journey. Paul was at the Temple and Jews from Asia caused a riot. Paul was taken into Roman custody.
Later, Paul is taken into custody again. Instead of being under house arrest, Paul was placed in a jail cell. It is from this cell that Paul writes his letter to Timothy.
[4] “In deaths often” - Paul is a minister of Christ because he was close to death many times for Christ’s sake.
In Acts 14:19 (Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.), Paul was close to death when the crowd tried to stone him in Lystra.
Paul also had a near-death experience while traveling from Ephesus to Troas
[5] “Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils” - Paul is a minister of Christ because he traveled many miles and endured many hardships while traveling for Christ’s sake.
In Acts, we see that Paul had 18 journeys by ship.
[6] “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; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness” - Paul is a minister of Christ because he endured many perils and discomforts for Christ’s sake.
Perils of water - dangers that Paul faced while traveling by sea
Perils of robbers - muggers would often try to rob isolated travelers
Perils in the city - Paul experienced many hostile mobs in the cities where he preached
Acts 13:50 - But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
Acts 14:5 - And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them
Acts 14:19 - Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
Acts 16:19 - But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
Perils in the wilderness - Dangers Paul faced while traveling in the wilderness during his missionary journeys
Perils in the sea - Referring to Paul’s shipwrecks
Perils among false brethren - Paul faced danger and betrayal by those who said that they were his friends
1 Timothy 1:19, 20 - having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme
2 Timothy 1:15 - This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
2 Timothy 4:10 - for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica - Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia
2 Timothy 4:14 - Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.
In weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness - Paul lists some of the other physical discomforts he faced in the cause for Christ
Weariness could have come from the traveling, exposure, labor, and want
2 Corinthians 6:5 - in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; (sleeplessness and fastings)
1 Corinthians 4:11 - To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. (hunger and thirst; cold and nakedness)
[7] “My deep concern for all the churches” - Paul is a minister of Christ because he has a burden for Christ’s church.
Even in the midst of persecutions, Paul’s concern wasn’t for himself, but for others. Paul sympathizes with the believers and cares for them deeply.
This is a great message that Paul is teaching the Corinthian church and believers today. While we may have to go through many sufferings, trials, and disappointments in life, we should continue to glorify God with our lives and have a burden for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.