Paul the Apostle faced “robbers?”

Apparently so, but no such episode is recorded of him in the whole Book of Acts. Neither in any of his Epistles, not specifically so. Just a passing line in Paul’s “list of hardships,” 2nd Corinthians 11:22-31.

Let me show you, with the pertinent words capitalized. “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.” 2nd Corinthians 11:26

The noun “perils” simply means “dangers.”

And the word “robbers” translates the Greek noun “lestes.” And it is translated “thief” 11 times in the New Testament. It derives from “leizomai,” a verb meaning “to plunder.”

So, somewhere along the trail (or while sailing the seas … “pirates” are plunderers too) … somewhere in those thousands and thousands of miles traveled (preaching the Word of God) … Paul faced “robbers!”

Maybe more than once.

But when?

Where?

Neither Luke (Paul’s biographer) nor Paul himself (autobiographically) has chosen to tell us, to answer those specific questions.

It might have been during the first “Missionary Journey” when Paul and Barnabas left Cyprus and sailed up to Asia Minor. They disembarked at Perga and trekked (walked) right at a hundred miles to Antioch, their first preaching station! Yes, 100 miles … through some of the most dangerous territory in the Roman Empire, particularly “robber” infested, say the historians.

It was at Perga (just prior to entering “robber country”) that young John Mark “quit” the mission, returning “home” to Jerusalem! I’ve often wondered if the ruggedness of the area (and the dangers involved) played a part in his erroneous decision.

“IN PERILS OF ROBBERS”

Actually New Testament culture was rife with thievery. Jesus even told a parable about such men. “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among THEIVES, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.” Luke 10:30 the “Good Samaritan” Story!

And our Lord’s teaching on money, investment: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where THIEVES break through and STEAL: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where THEIVES do not break through nor STEAL.” Matthew 6:19-20, everyone understood the prevalence of “stealing,” of thieves!

Even Judas, one of the Twelve Disciples, was a “thief.” See John 12:6 for proof.

Yes, robbery was everywhere.

Not much better today, I might add!

But, did Paul’s encounters with “robbers” phase him?

Stop him?

Deter him?

Make him “turn back,” as did others?

Quit preaching and serving the Lord?

NO!

Indirectly proving his Apostleship, His authenticity as a man of God … Paul pressed onward!

Far from discouraging Paul, these calamities seemed to further motivate him!

To this point: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities (hardships), that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Wow, 2nd Corinthians 12:9.

This too, 2nd Corinthians 12:10, the following verse: “Therefore I TAKE PLEASURE in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Amazing!

“Bring on the robbers! In the poverty they force on  my life … I will discover the riches of Christ Jesus my Saviour.” So reasoned Paul!

With a attitude like that, a spirit so invincible … a man will remain FAITHFUL to his charge … all his days! And Paul was that man, one of them.

Robbers, just a “bump” in the road … certainly not a “detour!”

May we be determined Christians too!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

By “waters”  (in 2nd Corinthians 11:26, part of Paul’s “I suffered for Jesus” list) Paul does not mean, does not include the Ocean, not the Sea.

But he does remember, clearly, that he was often in “perils of waters.”

So, undoubtedly, he means “rivers,” likely swollen and angry ones, after a storm for example.

Paul would have been familiar with the Jordan River for sure.

And the Tarsus River (also called the Cydnus), near his home town in what’s today southern Turkey.

And the Orontes River, near Damascus.

The Rivers of Cyprus, too. The first island he visited as a traveling Preacher, on his “First Missionary Journey.”

And the often wild, raging Rivers of Asia Minor, in and around Perga, Lystra, and Derbe.

Not counting the Rivers of Greece!

And Italy!

And (maybe) Spain!

In those ancient days “prayer” was often offered by riversides. Luke records in … “And on the sabbath we (Paul being the leader) went out of the city (Philippi) by A RIVER SIDE, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.” (Acts 16:13) Paul likely saw that special river (Lydia was saved that day by those then placid waters) roaring a few times, after a typical Eastern “gulley-washer.”

Yes, Paul traveled for years, preaching God’s Word.

By (and through) many a river.

And often enough … he was there faced by dangerous, perilous circumstances.

Life threatening, probably.

Paul had learned that God very often “blessed” through those hard circumstances of life. He (Paul) had literally learned to “delight” in those especially trying times! (I preached this very truth even last night in Revival Meeting! “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Paul the Apostle, 2nd Corinthians 12:10.)

Our text, or part of one, for today. Once again … “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” … and the list goes on and on! 2nd Corinthians 11:26

I wish we knew the specifics about Paul’s “narrow escapes” around dangerous waters.

But we don’t.

It’s enough just to be aware … he faced all those fearful events … boldly resolved to keep on serving Jesus. Paul who wrote these words, lived by them as well. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” Most of 1st Corinthians 15:58, written to the same Corinthians Paul is now addressing.

God “spared” Paul to preach again!

I wonder if the Apostle, encountering those rushing waters (maybe hanging on for dear life) thought of something the Prophet Isaiah had written long ago? Something Isaiah heard God say to His people: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.” Isaiah 43:2, praise the Lord!

God does take care of us, doesn’t He?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Eight times, in a single verse!

The word is “perils,” in Greek “kindunos.”

It means “dangers.”

And outside this verse today, 2nd Corinthians 11:26, it is only found one other place in all the Bible. And Paul was the penman in that verse as well! Romans 8:35, which asks: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or PERIL, or sword?”

Then Paul answers his own question. “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:36-37, quoting Psalm 44:22, actually the two clauses immediately following the formula “as it is written.”

Paul lived a life of peril, because he loved Jesus and preached the Word of God!

And, even more significantly, Paul believed we would lead such lives too!

In 2nd Timothy 3:12 he boldly asserted: “Yea, and ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

Wow!

Now, to today’s specific verse: “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.” 2nd Corinthians 11:26

Here it is again, with the word “perils” capitalized. “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.”

The noun being emphasized is, again, “kindunos.” And its history, its derivation, its etymology is “uncertain.” Most (Greek) lexicons and dictionaries say.

One textbook says of “kindunos” … “a condition of threatening circumstances.”

Another thinks: “a risk, a hazard, a danger.”

Then a third: “a state of dangerous and threatening circumstances.”

Paul suffered all these things (another Lesson coming tomorrow about the specific “dangers” involved here) for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord!

He had enumerated (catalogued) them in his mind and heart!

He later wrote to the Galatian Christians: “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” Galatians 6:17, with “marks” being the Greek noun “stigma,” Read this, copied from a reputable dictionary: “Stigma: a mark pricked in or branded upon the body. To ancient oriental usage, slaves and soldiers bore the name or the stamp of their master or commander branded or pricked (cut) into their bodies to indicate what master or general they belonged to, and there were even some devotee’s who stamped themselves in this way with the token of their gods.”

Amazing!

Sounds like Paul (in one sense) may have nearly “volunteered” for such perils then! He certainly did not “run” from them! He used them as a “badge” of authenticity to his Christian life, his commitment to Jesus.

One more thing today, in each case “kindunos” occurs (all 8 of them) in 2nd Corinthians 11:26 … it is framed in the “dative” case. This nuance of any Greek noun indicates a “to” or “for” set of circumstances. The “robbers” and “Jews” and “Gentiles” involved were deliberately trying to “hurt” Paul The “perils” were directed at him … actually “to” (“toward”)him or “for” him indeed!

What malice!

And Paul stayed in their “danger zones” in order to preach the word of God!

What a “hero” he is!

A perilous life, sacrificed for Jesus ….

This is a quality of Christianity is not often seen in America, not lately.

Jesus, He is Worthy!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

Today’s Scripture verse, just a fragment of a verse really, contains only 3 words. Actually only 2 words in Greek! Yes, exerpted from 2nd Corinthians 11:26, Paul says of himself … “in journeyings often.”

He is listing some of the trials and difficulties he (as an Apostle) has faced over the years, writing this catalog about halfway (some say two-thirds) through his relatively long Ministry.

Paul’s “sufferings” here are his “badge of authenticity” in reality. Some false Preachers in that day bragged about living in luxury and amassing great wealth. Not Paul, never! He will “glory” (brag) about his infirmities! His hardships! His trials!

So … “in journeyings often.”

The noun “journeyings” is “hodoiporia” in Greek. The prefix “hodos” just means “way, road.” And “poreuomai” means “to travel, to walk, to depart.” (To travel up the road!) The word as Paul used it here is only found twice in the whole New Testament. It’s other location? John 4:6, used of Jesus. “Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his JOURNEY, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.” I’ve capitalized the word for easier identification.

Paul’s Saviour (Lord) traveled.

Now, so does His follower!

Do notice please that Paul pluralized the word, “journeyings.”

Lots of trips!

The first, second and third, “missionary journeys,” often so called.

And the long trip to Rome, under arrest, the shipwreck.

And (maybe) a trip to Spain and back, preaching of course.

Total the miles … at least 9,000 by land.

Then add another 7,000 by sea.

Minimally, no less than 15,000 miles, “journeyings” being the right word indeed!

Before automated transportation!

We’re talking “foot” miles, or else “sailing (ocean-going) vessels.”

“In journeyings often.”

The qualifier “often” is “pollakis,” meaning “frequently.” I would simply define it as “many, many times.”

Paul, considering his first century environment … remarkably became a world traveler, obeying Jesus’ Great Commission.

My little ministry probably takes me 35,000 miles a year. But with cars and planes making those trips possible, even enjoyable! I’ve never ridden a donkey to a Revival Meeting!

Oh, how we should admire Paul.

And in so doing ask the Lord to make us also … “faithful” … to the One Who died to save us from our sin!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Paul, in 2nd Corinthians 11:22-31, shares with us an amazing list of experiences he had endured … in the work of our Lord. Events involving suffering (or pressure of some kind) … for Jesus’ Sake!

Today’s focus centers on a single fact, Paul having written: “a night and a day I have been in the deep.” 2nd Corinthians 11:24

This ordeal must have followed one of Paul’s 3 “shipwrecks,” meantioned one clause earlier in our Text. “Thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep.”

The expression “in the deep” (in Greek “en ho buthos”) means stranded in the depths of the sea. “Buthos” (deep) gives us our word “bath.”

“Have I been” translates the verb “poieo,” meaning “to bear” something.

But Paul so “grasping” something as he floated those hours (maybe a piece of the ship) was in God’s Eyes … “beautiful!” Gracefully “poetic,” a virtual piece of “art,” an act of praise and worship! (Because the Greek verb “poieo” literally supplies us with the words “poem” and “poet” and “poetic!”)

Later in his ministry, Paul again had an opportunity to suffer in this fashion. Yes, another shipwreck! “But the Centurion (Paul’s ‘guard’ on board) willing to save Paul … commanded that they which could SWIM should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: and the rest, some on BOARDS, and some on broken PIECES of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.” Acts 28:43-44

Wow!

Paul endured this … yet never missed a day serving His Lord!

No wonder he could write: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” (1st Corinthians 15:58) Paul indeed lived what he preached!

Not a word of grumbling, either! “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.” (Philippians 2:14)

In the water, the ocean.

Likely in the cold.

For a night and a day.

What love for Jesus.

What an example to follow.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

It’s a “night and a day” instead of a “day and a night” because of Paul’s Jewish “mindset.” When God created the world …”the EVENING and the morning” … were the fist day.” And the second day as well. The Jewish people still begin their days at “sunset!”