“But whatever anyone dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I am talking like a madman—I am a better one: with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless floggings, and often near death. Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked. And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus (blessed be he forever!) knows that I do not lie. In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.” 2 Cor. 11:21-33

Paul does not really want to boast, but his Corinthian adversaries, the “super-apostles” have forced him to this point. Boasting does not come naturally to him. But seeing the necessity to do so, to show the folly of those who continually practice boasting, Paul engages in boasting by comparing himself and his colleagues with the false apostles. For a number of the people we encounter every day, in the news, in politics, boasting comes easy. Maybe you have someone in your family for whom boasting comes easy. Not for Paul. But because of the circumstances, Paul now finds himself boasting, and he admits that he does not like it. And when he makes such a comparison, the false apostles come out looking very bad — but who among us would not compared to the struggles Paul has endured?

Two things I think we need to point out:

First, we must recognize that all of the items Paul lists here are examples of his personal sacrifices and sufferings in the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ. No one would list these in their resume or in their press clippings. In fact, these are some of the very things the false apostles might point out as good reason to look down upon the apostles. The things Paul’s adversaries consider shameful and discrediting are the very things for which Paul boasts. Here is where Paul really makes his point. His opponents are into the “good life.” They are self-indulgent, and they offer the same lifestyle to those who would follow them. Paul and his colleagues are selfless, paying a very high price for the privilege of proclaiming Christ.

Second, the afflictions Paul enumerates are those he could rather easily avoid if he had chosen to do so. We have seen that Paul’s sufferings and trials are those he receives for preaching the gospel. If Paul had chosen to just back off and play it safe, he would not have suffered as he did. Paul lives the kind of life and engages in the kind of ministry which he knows will bring him adversity.

We should not seek to bring suffering upon ourselves for the sake of suffering — but we can endure such suffering through the power of the Holy Spirit if we endure for the sake of Christ.

Pastor Dave