In | Suffering as an Apostle
Suffering as an Apostle
A major theme of the Early Church in general, and in 2 Corinthians especially, is suffering. For the first few hundred years of its existence, the Church was a violently persecuted minority.
No one knew this better than Paul, who was involved—at different times in his life—on both sides of brutal persecution.
In his letters to the Corinthians, Paul provides vivid descriptions of his own suffering for the church. A brief sampling is provided in the chart below. Match each description of suffering in the left column with the passages in the right.
| Paul’s Suffering in 1 & 2 Corinthians | Forms of Suffering |
| To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. (1 Cor 4:11, NIV)I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. (2 Cor 11:27, NIV)In beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger …. (2 Cor 6:5, NIV)I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. (2 Cor 11:27, NIV) | Hunger Thirst Nakedness Homelessness Exhaustion |
| When we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment. (1 Cor 4:13, NIV)Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones …. (2 Cor 11:25a)In danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles … in danger from false believers. (2 Cor 11:26b) | Ridicule Persecution Physical abuse |
| Three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits …. (2 Cor 11:25b-26a) | Calamities |
| We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair …. (2 Cor 4:8) | Uncertainty Opposition Confusion |
Adapted from: Lars Kierspel, Charts on the Life, Letters, and Theology of Paul, 2012, pp. 70-71.