Read with me Paul’s comment just AFTER listing all his “trials,” serving the Lord. “I (Paul) 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. 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; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” 2nd Corinthians 11:23-27, plus what?

“BESIDE those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” The next verse, 2nd Corinthians 11:28.

I will say more about this verse Monday morning, in our Lesson, the Lord willing.

But for today … “Beside” other things!

In other words, “There’s more!”

The Greek adverb translated “beside” is “choris.” It means “apart from.” It means “in addition to.” It means “separately.”

Twenty-six different “circumstances” enumerated here, “plus” another major burden!

Grandmother used to say, “When it rains … it pours!”

“Beside” … other things!

Paul suffered much for Jesus’ Sake!

In fact, the trials never quit coming!

Still … he stood strong!

He did not waver!

His lifelong goal as a Christian: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, SO THAT I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

And he did, Paul did!

Finished his course … with joy!

No matter what else (“beside”) came his way!

And just before he died, the great Apostle wrote these words: “I have fought a good fight, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I have kept the faith.” 2nd Timothy 4:7

He did it, through Christ Jesus his Lord!

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Paul the Apostle, who admonished countless Christians to “adorn themselves in modest apparel,” describing himself as “naked?”

Yes, or at least facing episodes of “nakedness” in his Ministry. One that spanned 35 years or so of hard labor for Jesus. And Paul wrote these words (in our text) some twenty-one years into that career serving our dear Lord.

Here’s how the list ends: “In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and NAKEDNESS. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” 2nd Corinthians 11:27-28

In Greek “nakedness” is the word “gumnotes.”

See in it the “root” of our word “gymnasium.” That’s because the Romans exercised (at the “gym”) absolutely naked! That’s how they ran their races at the “Olympics,” too.

But Paul, that way, “in nakedness?”

It surely would have been an involuntary situation.

Forced by circumstances into nakedness.

Notice that in our Text verse the word “cold” is linked to “nakedness” by the conjunction “and.” As here in the King James Version: “in cold and nakedness.”

I believe Paul had times when his wardrobe was so sparse, so insufficient, scanty … that he was “cold” and virtually “naked,” insofar as human comfort was concerned.

Yes, in all his thousands of miles of traveling (15,000 at least, all by foot or slow sailing ships) Paul’s clothing grew old and worn, badly raveled. To the point he termed a state of “nakedness.”

And he apparently for long stretches of time had no friends to help him replace his clothing! Or maybe his friends just had no way to get such support to him. He certainly went to some extremely remote locations, preaching the Word!

And apparently no money of his own to buy such garments!

In such coldness.

And now, “nakedness!”

This gives added pathos to Paul’s plea to Timothy: “The cloke (outer coat, to warm the body) that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee.” 2nd Timothy 4:13

And Timothy, please … “come before cold weather!” Yes, “Do thy diligence to come before winter.” 2nd Timothy 4:21

Yet remember, Paul was a “tentmaker” by trade. And helped supplement his income that way at times. In Corinth, for example. When introducing us to Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:2-3) Scripture informs us: “And because he (Paul) was of the same craft, he abode with them (Aquila and his Wife), and wrought (worked, earned some money): for by their occupation they were tentmakers.” So I am saying Paul might could have made his own clothing, though rough and coarse and scratchy. But he did not even have the material to do that, apparently!

Nakedness!

How sad.

Yet he kept preaching the Word!

He did not get discouraged.

Likely this list would have never been written … had some false teachers in Corinth not accused Paul of being a false prophet, an insincere, spurious preacher!

I have admired him for years. But now, after this study, my love and respect for Paul have grown exponentially, as they say.

He did not quit!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I once heard a godly old Preacher say, “The test of character is what it takes to stop you!”

If so … Paul clearly passed the test!

***

I invite you to this Class … anyone within driving distance.

For more information, call or text 770-844-7627.

And if you cannot come, please pray for the Word of God to have “free course” as I teach and preach.

 

They had no “central heating” back in those days.

And Winters could be pretty severe.

Paul the Apostle tells us in 2nd Corinthians 11:27 that in his Ministry he at times endured the “cold.” Here’s the Text, in part: “In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in COLD and nakedness.”

The word is “psuchos.”

It is built from a verb, “psucho,” meaning “to cool by blowing.” It is only used once in the New Testament, there being translated “wax cold.”

As for our little noun itself, “psuchos,” I have located it 3 different times in Scripture, counting our Verse here today.

Here’s a classic. “And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was COLD: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.” John 18:18, how to handle the “cold.”

And during the Acts 27-28 shipwreck. “And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the COLD.” An ordeal NOT mentioned in Paul’s “hardship” list here. Because it happened later than his second Letter to Corinth, years later, Acts 28:2.

So, we can say for sure, Paul shivered, keenly felt the discomfort, likely for hours at a time, in the cold! Maybe night after night, when in prison! For weeks, months, years?

Paul’s second Letter to Timothy has this line: “The CLOKE (outer coat) that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.” 2nd Timothy 4:13, a cold jail cell!

While others (preachers who were “hirelings”) has no discomforts at all, when compared to Paul anyway. Had they endured this list … they would have “fled” like the imposters they really were!

“Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 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.” 2nd Corinthians 11:22-23

Paul is using his hardships, his difficulties, as a “badges” of authenticity!

As “proofs” of his determination to serve the Lord Who saved him!

Paul, who firmly believed … “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Wow, 2nd Timothy 3:12

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Wonder if some day us Christians in America might get to “prove” our faithfulness the same way? Through adversity!

I invite you to this Class … anyone within driving distance.

For more information, call or text 770-844-7627.

 

Two days ago, in our Lesson about Paul here on the Website, we learned that the Apostle suffered from time to time “hunger.” Not just between means, of course. But elongated hunger. Yet, when so deprived of food, he continued to serve God.

Now we are being told (by Paul himself at that) that “fastings” were a frequent experience as well! Yes, the word is plural in our King James New Testaments.

What’s the difference?

Maybe this. “Hunger” is the state of being “without food” when such a condition is out of one’s control. No choice involved! Nothing available to eat, for example.

Whereas the numerous “fastings” likely imply voluntarily going without nourishment, most probably for a religious reason.

So Paul was … “in fastings often …” 2nd Corinthians 11:27

The Greek noun used here is spelled “nesteia.” It literally means “not” (indicate by the initial letters “ne,” a prefix) “to eat” (spelled “esthio” in Greek).

One Lexicon defines the verb, “nesteuo,” like this … “to abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink: either entirely, if the fast lasted but a single day, or from customary and choice nourishment, if it continued several days.”

No food at all.

Or no solid food, if prolonged.

Maybe just water or juice.

Or, as with Daniel in chapter 1 of the great Prophecy he left us … not eating certain “luxurious, delicate” foods, just something plain, again like beans and water. (Daniel 1:12 … “Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.” The word “pulse” here means “things sown,” vegetables.)

So Paul too, was a man of many “fasting.”

Our text today, 2nd Corinthians 11:17, words it this way: “In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, IN FASTINGS OFTEN, often, in cold and nakedness.”

“Often,” in Greek “pollakis,” is essentially “many.”

I do not want to imply that “nesteia” is never used for “forced hunger” (or “involuntary” hunger). But that normally it is not so used. And paired with “hunger” (in Greek “limos,” most often meaning “famine”) as it is in our text … the likelihood of it being anything but voluntary decreases, I believe.

But Paul here was “fasting” so often (apparently being that sincerely concerned about any number of spiritual issues) that such seasons of “no eating” had become a significant sacrifice on his behalf. Especially after the “hunger and thirst” episodes of the last two days, as described here on our Bible Study Site.

Why fast, in the Christian sense?

First … because Jesus taught it as a spiritual exercise, discipline. He did not say “if” ye fast, but “when” ye fast! Matthew 16:6 … “Moreover WHEN ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”

Second … because fasting seems to humble our hearts and better prepare us for prayer. In Psalm 69:10 David used these words: “I chastened my soul with fasting.” Wow! Humility, not letting one’s body “rule” his whole life! Sounds like Paul’s “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection.” 1st Corinthians 9:27, part of the verse.

Third … we spend a lot of time eating. Probably more than we realize! Not having so many meals might give us more opportunities in the day, the week, time to be used in spiritual ways. Reading, studying Scripture, prayer or fellowship with the Lord. (Granted, the last of my three “reasons” is probably the least supportable Biblically.)

Indeed … Paul fasted.

Yet never complained in doing so.

Oh, one more passage of advice about fasting, from our Lord again. “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:17-18

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Maybe I should have included today’s “trial” in Paul’s life … right alongside yesterday’s “hard” situation. Even he did that: “in hunger and thirst.” Still part of 2nd Corinthians 11:27. The word “and” is a conjunction, showing “linkage.” Paul does not use “and” many times in his whole litany here.

Nevertheless I have separated these two “discomforts.” So today (in our Lesson) we learn that Paul was tortured by “thirst.” Based on the whole tenor of the list, “often” in thirst. He seems to number the events that occurred less frequently. As back in verse 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.”

Note this too. The numbers were still growing! The Book of Acts meticulously records another time Paul was “stoned,” at Lystra. As well as another shipwreck, on the voyage to Rome as a prisoner.

Paul … “in thirst.”

The Greek word (the noun) is “dipsos,” and is only used this single time in the New Testament. However, it’s verbal form occurs 3 times in Matthew 25:35-42. As here: “For I (Jesus) was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I WAS THIRSTY (“dipsao”) , and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in.”

It means: “to suffer from thirst.”

Paul (and likely his traveling company as well) … all thirsty!

With no access to water, not safe water anyway.

When did this occur?

How?

We do not know.

We are left to advancing “suppositions” at best.

But let this be understood, no doubt exists regarding the accuracy of the report. Paul did thirst, dangerously so it seems. The Bible is divinely inspired, without error.

Perhaps Paul was in a flood somewhere, with raging filthy water everywhere. No clean water to be found! Thirst gnawing in his body.

Maybe again when he was imprisoned (years and years of his life) some jailor or guard refused him decent food (happened often) and water. Dark and damp and hungry … plus the corollary deep thirst.

Maybe Paul’s body was ravaged with infection (malaria raged in many areas where they preached)! Burning with fever! Thus, thirsty! Nearly unquenchable thirst!

It touches my heart that one of the greatest Preachers who ever lived … did not demand luxury … in his day to day affairs.

He was willing to “endure hardship” for Christ’s sake.

Thus practicing his own advice: “Thou therefore ENDURE HARDNESS, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2nd Timothy 2:3

Yes, Paul loved our Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell