Paul, hungry?

The man who wrote the following words. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Yet this same Paul did relate, autobiographically, that he had been … “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 ….” 2nd Corinthians 11:23-27, with more to come!

Yes, this last one is astounding!

And the word used for “hunger,” in Greek “limos,” is sparsely utilized in Scripture. Only 12 times (total) can I find it. It means “scarcity of harvest.” In fact, 3 times “limos” is translated “famine” in the King James New Testament.

It flows from a “parent” verb, “leipo,” meaning “to lack.” Or once, “to be destitute.”

Did Paul those 3 years in Arabia … go hungry?

Did he, under Gamaliel’s tutelage, study so hard (involving so much time) that he simply didn’t eat, hungering in that sense?

Was he a man who had just rather feel “hungry” most of the time, than “sated, overfilled, stuffed?”

Or was he willing to go preach in places that were being ravaged by famine, thus himself going hungry too?

We do not know.

We only have the fact that Paul suffered hunger as he pursued the Lord’s work.

Hunger … for Jesus’ Sake.

Here’s a little history of the word …

Jesus 3 times used “limos” as “famine,” in His great Olivet Discourse, warning His Disciples about a coming time of Tribulation on earth. In Matthew and Mark and Luke!

Later the Book of Revelation reinforces Jesus’ Teaching, in chapters 6 (verse 18) and 18 (verse 8). Bible Prophecy fulfilled!

In Luke 4:25 Jesus linked Elijah to a time of famine, putting Paul in good company!

Twice our Lord used the word (“limos” as “famine”) in His great Luke 15 Parable about the “Prodigal Son.” Here, for example: “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty FAMINE in that land; and he began to be in want.” Then again: “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with HUNGER!”

Stephen once mentioned the “dearth” (famine) that engulfed Egypt during the days of Joseph, a famine the Patriarch foresaw and wisely sought to alleviate. See Acts 7:11.

Then Paul … twice uses the word (still “limos”), or it is used (by Luke) in relation to Paul and his vast (for that time) ministry.

A famine was predicted for Judah by a Prophet named Agabus (Acts 11:28), a prophecy that proved to be 100% accurate. “And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great DEARTH (“limos”) throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in JUDEA: which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” Acts 11:28-30

Paul was determined to collect money for food … for the suffering saints in Jerusalem and thereabouts. He may have then been in a time of “hunger,” in solidarity with his brothers and sisters in Christ there.

Then once more, Paul gloriously wrote: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or FAMINE, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Romans 8:36

Whereupon he immediately answers his own question! “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

Amen.

Whenever Paul was “hungry,” Jesus was by his side.

Still loving him.

Folks, throughout history’s numerous periods of persecution (against Christians) … countless believers like you and me have been starved to death!

Hunger!

I’m so glad Paul has told us this today, about himself. “In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, IN HUNGER ….”

Often … hungry … serving the Lord Christ.

What a great God we serve, a great Saviour!

Drawing such devoted followers!

It’s an honor to be a Christian.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today’s autobiographical note from Paul is a little ambiguous. He, in 2nd Corinthians 11:27, tells us that he was “in watchings often.”

The Greek text, “en agrupnia pollakis.”

The noun “agrupnia” is a blended word. The first letter, the “a” (alpha in Greek) reverses the meaning of the rest of the word. It means “not.” The teachers sometimes call this an “alpha privative.”

Then “agrupneo” means “to sleep.”

Now we have to put them together … thus, “not to sleep” or just “sleeplessness.”

Wow!

Not every night I am sure, Paul possessing the Peace of God like he did. (As in Philippians 4:7 … “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.“)

But some nights, “many” in fact, no sleep!

“in watchings often”

The adverb “often” is “pollakis,” a derivative of “pollus,” indeed meaning “many.”

Now to discuss “agrupnia. Did Paul have insomnia? Was he so hyperactive that sleep eluded him? Did his body require little rest, a hereditary thing?

I think none of the above suggestions hold the answer to Paul’s “watchings.”

Rather …

He was sleepless because of dangers lurking all around him and his traveling (evangelistic) team.

Based on the context of “peril” after “peril,” what else can be deduced?

Sleepless, taking turns “on guard duty” … because so many enemies meant Paul harm!

Many a death threat against this Giant of God is recorded in the Book of Acts.

And Dr. Luke (the penman of Acts) was not with Paul every mile of every journey. No telling what happened in the “silent” years!

Living under that kind of “pressure,” Paul did for years.

Like the 7 years David fled from Saul!

Or the 40 years Moses was a fugitive in the desert!

Or Jesus’ 3 years of public Ministry, hated by many who wanted the Lord dead!

Paul also suffered.

How did he preach the next day … after a night when sleep was impossible?

Or write the next chapter of Romans?

Or walk the next twenty miles?

“in watchings often”

I admire Paul more and more … as we cover this ” hardship list.”

Yet, as I’ve said a dozen (or more) times now … Paul remained faithful!

He did not quit.

Surely such adversity proves his commitment to Jesus!

Proves that he is a genuine Believer … and Apostle!

And finally … that day when a Roman executioner’s sword chopped Paul’s head from his body … I am sure that man of God reflected … “Thankfully, rest at last!”

Amen to a life well lived.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

In 2nd Corinthians 11:27 Paul the Apostle tells us that he experienced times of “painfulness,” apparently fairly often, as a result of his serving the Lord.

Here’s the whole verse, short as it may be: “In weariness and PAINFULNESS, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” Wow!

The noun “painfulness” is “mochthos” in Greek. And it is truly rare in the New Testament, only being used 3 times. And even its “parent,” the word from which it derives (“mogis”), is only found 1 time!

“Mochthos” means “hard, difficult labor.” Further; “toil, travail, distress.”

Here’s how Paul used the word when writing the one Church: “For ye remember, brethren, our labour and TRAVAIL (“mochthos”): for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.” 1st Thessalonians 2:9

And later Paul combines the same two words again (“labour and travail”) when writing to that group of Believers: “Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and TRAVAIL (“mochthos”) night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you.” 2nd Thessalonians 3:8

Thus, “mochthos” is expressed the three times it’s used in the (King James Version) New Testament as “travail” 2 times and “painfulness” 1 time.

I wonder what kind of “pain” it was, that Paul suffered.

Maybe his back throbbed … after those eight (plus) beatings he received, preaching the Word of God. Maybe his head bled, or his broken bones hurt, after the stonings (yes, more than one) he incurred.

That would be this type of “painfulness!”

But Paul did not consider himself just “hurting” in agony.

He thought of his agony as “birth pangs!”

And “travail” or “labor” … as when a mother is giving birth to a baby, a little child!

His extreme discomfort, his “level 10” hurting, was for a purpose, a reason.

Bringing more children into the family of God!

As in Galatians 4:19. “My little children, of whom I travail (different verb, same idea) in birth again until Christ be formed in you.”

Paul was a genius at looking at his “negatives” (all this suffering, 2nd Corinthians 11:22-31, dozens of events) as “positives.”

Like here: “And he (the Lord Jesus) said unto me (Paul), My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2nd Corinthians 12:9

Most gladly!

My “weaknesses” can trigger God’s “power!”

For Paul, a great trade!

Readers here today, you can’t defeat a man like that!

Praise the Lord.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

A critic might say (many have, in fact) that Paul was carrying things to an extreme!

Going “on and on” about all his troubles!

But he is using thIS list (2 Corinthians 11:22-31) for several purposes:

First, to show the Corinthians how much he loves them.

Second, to expose some false teachers who have infiltrated the true Corinthian Church, men who would “quit” before they ever “suffered” such ordeals as these Paul has experienced.

Third, to obey the Holy Spirit Who has directed (inspired) Paul to write each of these words, record each of these events, to make our Bible complete!

Today we learn that Paul was “in weariness” often, “wearied.”

The noun means “exhaustive labor.”

“Kopos” is derived from a verb (“kopto”) that means “to strike, to hit” something. To “beat it up!”

“Kopos” (the noun, our word used in today’s lesson) is likely the most intense word in the New Testament concerning “work” of any kind!

A little vocabulary history:

“Kopto”(the verb)  is translated “bewail, lament, mourn,” and the like.

And then its noun cognate (“kopos”) is translated (in the King James Version) “labor” (13 times) then “trouble” (5 times) then “weariness” (just 1 time, here in our text).

The word primarily refers to absolute “fatigue,” according to the lexicon I consulted.

Paul, often, had travelled so far … or preached so hard … or counseled some Christian so deeply … or faced some interrogation … or prayed all night … that he was EXHAUSTED BEYOND WORDS!

How helpful is this information!

I, too, feel that way at times.

It’s physical too, not spiritual.

But it is what I call a “good tired” feeling!

But few today would undergo such a lifestyle, not for long!

Few would go to Church … that “give out” … and joyfully participate in worship!

Folks, Paul was human!

His little body had physical limits, especially having been so mistreated, persecuted by the enemies of Christ!

Yet … as I’ve written many times in this Series … PAUL REMAINED FAITHFUL!

He did not quit.

His dedication to Jesus was real.

His “call” to serve was serious.

How do we measure up to such high standards?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

My life verse, 1st Corinthians 15:58 helps here. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye STEADFAST, UNMOVEABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your LABOUR (IN GREEK, “KOPOS”  … PLEASE SEE THIS!) is not in vain in the Lord.” Written by Paul, nonetheless!

Amen!

 

The Greek noun “pseudos” means “that which is unreal.” Thus, “something false.”

And Paul uses this term in 2nd Corinthians 11:26, describing his perilous life, faithfully serving the Lord. Paul sort of “coins” a word in so doing, “pseudadelphos.” Translated: “false brethren.”

Yes, Paul encountered dangers” (“perils”) among “false brethren!”

People who “said” they were saved, but in reality were not!

In searching for this expression (particularly in all of Paul’s New Testament correspondence), and only found one other instance.

Here, in our text, in 2nd Corinthians 11:26, Paul had been …  “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, (then) IN PERILS AMONG FALSE BRETHREN.”

Then in Galatians 2:4, another place Paul had been plagued by enemies of the Gospel. “And that because of FALSE BRETHREN unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.” Men trying to put the new converts back under the Law of Moses! Deny the exclusive saving power of the Grace of God!

Paul did once use the expression “false apostles,” in our chapter too! Exactly, in 2nd Corinthians 11:13. Surely the terms are parallel!

People who hated Paul, apparently.

People who did not believe in the total saving Power of the Blood of Jesus, obviously.

People who themselves evidently were NOT saved, “false brethren.”

And they wanted to harm the Apostle Paul!

He pursued most of his Ministry, at risk of these hypocrites!

He also labeled them “deceitful workers.”

“Transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” Putting on an act, 2nd Corinthians 11:13 again.

Then Paul adds this little tidbit of this crowd: “And no marvel; for SATAN HIMSELF is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if HIS MINISTERS also be transformed as the MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2nd Corinthians 11:14-15

Paul had learned to identify them, false brethren.

And to warn people of them.

“Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.” Wow, 2nd Timothy 4:14-15

God spared Paul from those dangers, “perils among false brethren.”

By the way, such men and women still exist among our fellowships!

Tares among the wheat!

Thus, the New Testament closes with advice like this: “It was needful for me (Jude) to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are CERTAIN MEN crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, UNGODLY MEN, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and DENYING the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude verses 2-4.

Be SURE you are real!

Truly “in” the Faith.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell