Though there is not an anti-Semitic bone in Paul’s body, he here again (always being starkly truthful) tells us that his own people, the Jews, tried to hurt him again and again, “often.”
Bear this in mind, however. These enemies represent only a small portion of the Jews Paul met in his ministry. A “remnant,” he would have said.
And his love for that Nation was astounding. He would have been willing to die and go to “Hell,” had Israel only seen the truth about Jesus and been saved! Read with me the opening verses of Romans chapter nine. “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I COULD WISH THAT MYSELF WERE ACCURSED FROM CHRIST FOR MY BRETHREN, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.” Wow!
Still, as Paul relates his career of suffering for Jesus he reminds us that often he experienced “perils by mine own countrymen.” 2nd Corinthians 11:26
Dangers (perils), in another word.
The noun “countrymen” is “genos” in Greek. Those whose “genes” (we would say today) are compatible with Paul’s! His blood relatives.
And Paul should know these Christ-hating Jews. He once walked in harmony with them! “Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of THE STOCK OF ISRAEL, of THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN, an HEBREW OF THE HEBREWS; as touching the law, a PHARISEE; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in THE LAW, blameless.” Philippians 3:4-6
But long ago now, Paul (who preached salvation by Grace) and those old Jewish “friends” (who preached salvation by the Law of Moses), parted company.
And they have hated him and tried to do him harm ever since!
“Perils by mine own countrymen.”
In fact, Paul’s arrest that led him (as a prisoner) to Rome and ultimate execution (by Nero) … was engineered by a bunch of Jews who sought Paul’s harm.
I wish Paul had obeyed Acts 22:17-18, the voice of the Lord expressed there. “And it came to pass, that, when I was COME AGAIN to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; and saw him (the Lord Himself) saying unto me, MAKE HASTE AND GET THEE QUICKLY NOUT OF JERUSALEM: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.”
Wow!
Paul loved his people!
They (again, some of them) hated him.
He was indeed a minister unto the Gentiles.
But alas, as we shall see tomorrow … they (many of them) hated him too.
Oh, how he endured hardship for the sake of our Lord!
Paul, a “hero” in the faith!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell