Tag: Devotion

2 Corinthians 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

This punishment was a distinctively Roman way of dealing with a malefactor. The rods were made of wood, and the sentence would be executed by the lictor, who assisted the magistrate with the enforcement of corporal punishment. Acts records that Paul and Silas were severely beaten with rods in Philippi (Acts 16:22-23), even though it was illegal to flog a Roman citizen.

Acts 16:22-23 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast theminto prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Numerous examples can be found where the law was ignored by a magistrate. As Romans, the Corinthians would have been keenly aware of the social stigma attached to this punishment, which underscores again the Apostle Paul’s determination to undermine the inverted value system of the Corinthians by boasting in the very things they would have regarded as shameful (2 Corinthians 11:30; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.¹

2 Corinthians 11:30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Unless God was with the Apostle Paul, a mere man cannot endure such hardship. Even though the cause may be noble and there are spiritual rewards awaiting the sufferer, it is only by the power of God that one can endure the persecution that comes with the work of the gospel.

2 Corinthians 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

The passage from the Mishnah indicates, this was a painful and humiliating ordeal:

How do they flog him? One ties his two hands on either side of a pillar, and the minister of the community grabs his clothing—if it is torn, it is torn, and if it is ripped to pieces, it is ripped to pieces—until he bares his chest. A stone is set down behind him, on which the minister of the community stands. And a strap of cowhide is in his hand, doubled and redoubled, with two straps that rise and fall [fastened] to it…. And he who hits him hits with one hand, with all his might¹.

It was described in Acts 17:1-3 that the Apostle Paul received this “from the Jews” indicates his continued missionary activities in the synagogues.

Acts 17:1-3 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:23-24 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

For the Apostle Paul, Jesus could have consumed him on that road to Damascus. He was blinded. He could have remained blind. He is the pot in the hands of the potter. He knew the heart of God is of love, it cannot do him bad but will only do him good if he will only continue to trust and continue to follow Jesus in obedience. The evangelist DL Moody realized this truth when he gave his life to Christ full time, “it is not what Moody can do for Christ but what Christ can do to make a more sanctified Moody.” As the Apostle Paul goes through all these afflictions for the sake of the gospel, Jesus was purifying and moulding him to be conformed to His image. And this is the sole purpose of man’s existence. We are made in the image of God to reflect Him.

This is the Apostle Paul’s testimony nearing the end of his life. 1 Timothy 1:12-16 “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”

We are to follow after the Apostle Paul as did Timothy. It was by the sheer mercy of God that he can serve the living and true God. He called himself a chief of sinners. If one is a chief sinner then he is most unworthy. Yet God pardoned such a one and died for such a one to save and entrust him with His Word. It was out of a heart of gratitude that the Apostle Paul served. And he said that God’s grace was exceeding abundant with faith (in trusting God whatever the external circumstance may be) and love (the power that drives his sacrifice).

2 Corinthians 11:23-24 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

The Apostle Paul’s words read like a parody of the famous inscription of Augustus in which he catalogs the glories of his reign, the achievements he wanted all to remember:

Twice have I had the lesser triumph … three times the [full] curule triumph; twenty-one times have I been saluted as “Imperator.” … Fifty-five times has the Senate decreed a thanksgiving unto the Immortal Gods … Nine kings, or children of kings, have been led before my chariot in my triumphs … thirteen times had I been consul.

The original inscription was erected on bronze pillars at the emperor’s mausoleum in Rome, and copies were distributed throughout the provinces. Portions have been found in Ancyra (capital of Galatia), Apollonia (in Illyricum), and Antioch (in Pisidia). Such chronicles of glory would have been familiar to Paul and the Corinthians, rendering Paul’s “boast” all the more ironic.¹

Being reminded of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul walked in His steps.

2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

The conditions in which prisoners were typically held would be considered inhumane by modern standards. Locked away in over-crowded, lice-infested, unsanitary, and lightless hovels, prisoners routinely contracted disease through incarceration and sometimes died as a result of a prolonged stay in a Roman jail. Heavy iron manacles were bound around wrists, feet, and often the neck, which grated through the flesh and caused all manner of pain and infection. Paul’s frequent mention of his “chains,” should conjure up images too distressful to contemplate.¹

One such prison experience was in Philippi described by Luke in Acts 16:16-31 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the market place unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

The steward of the jail together with his family was gloriously saved! God authenticated his servant with an earthquake that shook off his chains. He could have escaped but he did not. He had a higher mission that enabled him to endure the pain of imprisonment. Such is the man!

2 Corinthians 11:22-23 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 labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

The Apostle Paul shared that he was as much a true blue Israelite as those that seek to undermine the faith of the Corinthians. What distinguished him was that he suffered for the sake of the gospel. He paid the price. He was authenticating his ministry by recounting his labours and sufferings for the gospel’s sake. The infiltrators to the church cannot say the same. They came with an agenda to seek gain for themselves. But for the Apostle Paul, he recounted his losses. These losses accounted for his genuine calling and service. It was a sacrificial work in which he willingly suffered it.

He speaks of working very hard for the gospel’s sake. The effort takes a toll on the body. Yet he willingly laboured. He speaks of being whipped for preaching the gospel. He had to endure great pain. Such whipping often inflicts permanent injury on the body. The scars of the suffering and memory of them cannot be easily erased because they were often excruciating. His life was often in danger. It was a precarious work. Why would one risk his life? He testifies of his suffering to bring a contrast to the ministry of those who preached another gospel. He distinguished his apostleship by his suffering! Those others cannot say the same.