2 Corinthians 11:23

PAUL’S SUFFERINGS

‘In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.’

2 Corinthians 11:23

The world now knows for what principles the great Apostle of the Gentiles suffered; but he was regarded by his contemporaries as a subverter of ancient customs, as a bringer-in of strange doctrines, as one who was ‘turning the world upside down.’

I. What was St. Paul’s object in recounting these labours and trials of his?—We are sure that it was in no spirit of boasting. Self-assertion or even self-vindication must have been painful to a mind like his. It was simply to vindicate his Master’s cause, and his own right to represent that cause. There were those who had disputed his claim because he had not been originally called by the Master Himself. He had to show what were the real tokens of the Divine acceptance. They were not such as would dazzle the world. The world was not to be won to the cause of the Crucified by human learning, grace, or eloquence. But the world was to be won by suffering. The Saviour Whom St. Paul preached was a crucified Saviour, the glory in which St. Paul gloried was in the Cross. And it was by suffering that the world was won to the cause of Christ.

II. Several lessons may be drawn from St. Paul’s recounting of his sufferings.

(a) The sure triumphs of truth.

(b) ‘ The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.’

(c) The impulse which he gave for sending forth holy men who are even now winning over the heathen for the Redeemer’s inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. And not by his example only, but by his writings.

III. May the example of him who was ‘in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft,’ rebuke the easy self-indulgence of our times. May the contemplation of the life of the great Apostle show us what are the true signs and tokens of God’s acceptance. May the meditation on his writings convince us of the truth for which he was called on both to do and to suffer. Days of persecution may yet be in store for us; how should we endure them? Dare we suffer as well as do for Christ’s sake?

Illustration

‘St. Chrysostom beautifully says: “The Apostle endured shipwreck, but in those sufferings he stayed the shipwreck of the world. A night and day he was in the depth of the sea that he might draw mankind from the depth of that error in which they lay. He suffered weariness that he might refresh the weary. He gave his back to the smiters that he might bind up the wounds of those who had been wounded by the devil. He went down to prison that he might lead forth the captives of sin lying bound in their prison-house and restore those to light who lay in darkness. He was in death oft that he might deliver his brethren from more grievous death. Three times he received forty stripes, save one, that he might free those who persecuted him from the scourge of the devil. He was beaten with rods that he might make them know the blessing of that rod and staff by which man is comforted. He was stoned that he might lead them to prefer the Bread of Life to senseless stones—the idols to which they had been long time subject. He was in the wilderness that he might lead them out of their wanderings in the ways of error and in the wilderness of sin, and might lead them to heaven. He was in perils in the city that he might show them that City which is above, and make them citizens of the New Jerusalem. He suffered in hunger and thirst to deliver them from the hunger of the soul, and to satisfy their thirst for the waters which fail not. He endured nakedness in order that they might be clothed with the robe of righteousness. He burned that he might quench for them the fiery darts of the devil. The martyr dies but once; but this blessed saint, the chosen vessel of the Lord, endured countless troubles that he might win souls to Christ.” (St. Chrysostom on the “Priesthood.”)’