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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
11:21b-33 Paul's Boast in His Service and Suffering. Although forced to boast by his opponents, and after a long justification of his doing so (vv. 1-21a), Paul finally and reluctantly boasts in his identity. In stark contrast to his opponents, however, Paul boasts at great length in his weakness as the appropriate way to glorify God's grace and power in one's life (v. 30; see 2:14-16a; 4:7-12; 6:3-10; 12:5-10).
11:21b-23a Hebrews. A reference to Jewish ethnicity. Israelites. A reference to being God's chosen people under the old covenant. offspring of Abraham. A reference to being part of the new covenant people of God as well as being a true descendant of Abraham (see Rom. 9:6-9; 11:1-6; Gal. 3:8, 16, 29). Measured by his zeal for his heritage, Paul even claims to be a better servant of Christ than his opponents (see Gal. 1:14; Phil. 3:4-6). Because he is reluctant to speak of himself in this way, Paul downplays his qualifications, saying that he is speaking as a fool (2 Cor. 11:21b) and talking like a madman (v. 23a). In spite of his reluctance, however, Paul goes on to give a summary of what he has experienced, not for his own praise but for the "upbuilding" of the Corinthians (12:19), "for the sake of the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:23), and "for the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).
11:24 forty lashes less one. The Jewish punishment of
11:25-26 beaten with rods. This was the Gentile punishment for disturbing the peace (Acts 16:22-23, 35-38; 22:25-29; 1 Thess. 2:2). Once, in Lystra, Paul was stoned (Acts 14:5-19), the most common form of execution in the Bible. three times I was shipwrecked. Of course, this would not include the shipwreck described in Acts 27, which occurred after Paul wrote this. Paul's description of shipwrecks and other dangerous aspects of his journeys aligns well with other ancient travel narratives, even if Paul's experiences were especially intense. Nautical archaeologists have identified many ancient shipwrecked boats around the Mediterranean.
11:28 And, apart from other things summarizes the other physical sufferings Paul could have listed. anxiety for all the churches. See 2:12-13.
11:30 God triumphs amid human weakness, embodying the principle of Christ's crucifixion (1 Cor. 1:27; 2 Cor. 10:3; 12:5, 9; 13:4, 9).
11:32-33 Paul's experience in Damascus shortly after encountering the risen Christ (Acts 9:8-25) took place under the Nabatean governor there during the reign of the Nabatean king Aretas IV (). Having to flee in a basket was a striking example of Paul's "weakness" (2 Cor. 11:30) as a result of being called to suffer for Christ's name (see Acts 9:16).
