PAUL’S HARDSHIPS, IN THE SEA

July 19, 2016 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

This is the third time Paul has mentioned some "seafaring" experience, in his relatively short (biographical) "Hardship List!" Here they are: He was three times involved in "shipwrecks!" Then later ... he was "a night and a day in the deep," … [Continue reading]

PAUL’S HARDSHIPS, IN THE WILDERNESS

July 18, 2016 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

I checked the Greek word for "wilderness," spelled "eremia." It (a noun) is only used in the whole New Testament 4 times! It means "an uninhabitable place." Or "wasteland." But "eremia" derives from "eremos" (an adjective) which is found 50 times in … [Continue reading]

PAUL’S HARDSHIPS, IN THE CITY

July 16, 2016 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

Paul wants to tell us that he endured many a hard time, living for Jesus, "in the city." I wish we knew more. Did he, for example, mean just one City, which would undoubtedly have been Jerusalem? Or did he instead mean "city," in the generic … [Continue reading]

PAUL’S HARDSHIPS, THE HEATHEN

July 15, 2016 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

Earlier in Paul's "hardships suffered for Jesus" list he mentioned being "beaten with rods." Now in a follow-up comment he adds that he had also experienced many (other) "perils by the heathen." That first comment is quite specific, three times … [Continue reading]

PAUL’S HARDSHIPS, THE JEWS AGAIN

July 14, 2016 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

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 … [Continue reading]