2 Corinthians 11:23, commentary and pictures

Paul's record in 2 Corinthians 11 is given to be studied, and it gives only an occasional glimpse of his labors and sufferings in the cause of Christ, since his letters do not dwell on his own trials but give reproof, counsel, admonition and encouragement as the condition of the churches demanded. In it he defends his ministry by declaring that he surpassed rival ministers as a minister of Christ in abundant labor and in exceptional beatings, imprisonments, and dangers of death. Those labors, stripes, imprisonments and frequent dangers of death were endured for the truth's sake and for the sake of the gospel as a messenger to the Gentiles, involving incessant toil in public and from house to house amid opposition, guarding a church yet young in the faith, bearing the burden of all the churches, and working with his own hands to supply his necessities. His sufferings included beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, imprisonment, poverty and self-denial, cold and hunger and thirst, and perils by land and by sea, in the city and in the wilderness, with the giving up of wealth, social standing, public honor and close ties. Despite trials far greater than others have experienced, he did not dwell on his troubles but turned from them and magnified God's grace, enduring them to bless others and live as Christ did, and his wounds and scars from that spiritual struggle stand as trophies of victory witnessing to God's promises, abiding presence, and sustaining grace.

Paul's Record of Suffering

This verse belongs to Paul's relation of his experience in 2 Corinthians 11, which is given to be studied and made to speak decidedly. It gives only an occasional glimpse of his labors and sufferings in the cause of Christ, since his letters do not dwell on his own trials but give reproof, counsel, admonition and encouragement as the condition of the churches demanded.

The verse defends his ministry by declaring that he surpassed rival ministers as a minister of Christ in abundant labor and in exceptional beatings, imprisonments, and dangers of death. The hardships it names illustrate the heavy, exhausting burdens that can fall on a faithful worker.

The labors, stripes, imprisonments and frequent dangers of death were endured for the truth's sake and for the sake of the gospel as a messenger to the Gentiles. They involved incessant toil in public and from house to house with tears, battling opposition from unbelieving Jews, mobs with insult and abuse, enemies of truth seeking by every means to destroy his labor for the salvation of men, countrymen, heathen and false brethren. With untiring zeal he pushed forward the gospel work while guarding a church yet young in the faith, bearing on the soul the burden of all the churches, and working with his own hands to supply his necessities.

The sufferings include beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, imprisonment, poverty and self-denial, cold and hunger and thirst, and perils by land and by sea, in the city and in the wilderness. He gave up wealth, social standing, public honor and close ties for Christ, though by nature sensitive and afraid of pain and peril. Service to Christ can involve such abundant labor and severe persecution.

The verse belongs to weariness and painfulness from unceasing toil and constant danger, enfeeblement by disease, at times depression of spirits, deep anguish and tears, and many sleepless nights spent in prayer and earnest thought over apostasy in churches of his own planting, over methods used to counteract his work, and over fear that his efforts would prove vain. Amid the constant storm of opposition, the clamor of enemies and the desertion of friends, when he almost lost heart, he looked back to Calvary and with new ardor pressed on to spread the knowledge of the Crucified. He trod the blood-stained path Christ had trodden before him and sought no discharge from the warfare till laying off his armor at the feet of his Redeemer.

Instruction and Example

2 Corinthians 11 belongs to Paul's relation of his experience, given to be studied and made to speak decidedly, and 2 Corinthians 11:23 instructs the minister not to enter into controversies with any man but to obtain a deeper experience, to avoid seeking to be original with odd notions, and to carry the work in a dignified, elevated, ennobling manner. The chapter warns that people viewing matters with human eyesight make very grave mistakes when they engage in a work God has not appointed but has condemned, the work of criticizing others and climbing upon the judgment seat to pronounce sentence. For their own spiritual advancement they should instead watchfully examine their own hearts, look at their own shortcomings and defects of character, and remove the beam of faultfinding, evil surmising, evil speaking, bearing false witness, hatred and accusing of the brethren.

Service to Christ can involve abundant labor and severe persecution, including beatings, imprisonment, stoning, and repeated danger of death, endured because Paul faithfully carried God's message to the Gentiles. His sufferings exemplify the reproach and persecution God's appointed witnesses have faced for the truth, and the same spirit of persecution has opposed God's servants across the centuries even as the work of God continues. The wounds and scars from that spiritual struggle stand as trophies of victory. His suffering, along with the suffering of other faithful servants, witnesses to God's promises, abiding presence, sustaining grace, and sustaining power of faith.

The verse defends Paul's ministry by declaring that he surpassed rival ministers in abundant labor and in exceptional beatings, imprisonments, and dangers of death. His ministry involved extraordinary labor and repeated suffering, marked by poverty, self-denial, imprisonment, and danger, and though by nature sensitive and afraid of pain and peril he endured them for the truth, seeking to bless others and live as Christ did. Despite trials far greater than others, even than Andrews, had experienced, Paul did not dwell on his troubles but turned from them and magnified God's grace. His heavy, exhausting burdens show that an easier life and an appearance of calm or holiness do not prove greater devotion.