2 Corinthians 11:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

NIV: Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

NASB: Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

CSB: Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.

NLT: Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.

KJV: Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

NKJV: besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

This section began with Paul claiming he would engage—mockingly—in the same foolish boasting practiced by his opponents in Corinth. Those false apostles followed the pattern of the day: declaring their victories, pointing out their strengths, and celebrating their power in order to gain an advantage over those who disagreed with them. They puffed themselves up and tore others down in order to be regarded as worth following.

Paul's "boasting," however, is actually a list of all of the ways he has suffered in his service to Christ. Instead of listing his victories or naming those who have trusted in Christ as a result of his work—including many in Corinth—he demonstrates that his work for Christ has brought him great pain, exhaustion, beatings, imprisonment, and endless danger.

Not all his suffering is external. Paul also suffers inwardly as he worries about all the Christian churches. Paul established many churches around the world, and he felt responsible for them. Many who had come to faith in Christ were experiencing terrible persecution. Others were in danger of compromising their faith, as the Corinthians were, because of false teachers attempting to lure them away from the simple gospel of Jesus.

Paul's internal suffering was like that of a parent hurting for his or her children and rooting for them to make wise and meaningful choices.

Second Corinthians 11:16–33 includes Paul's long list of ways he has suffered in his service to Christ. He describes this as crazy talk, mocking the arrogant style of the false apostles. In truth, the Corinthians probably would have thought of these as signs of failure, weakness, and loss. Paul is shocked that they are so willing to be mistreated by the false apostles. This abuse was something Paul was ''too weak'' to do in his Christlike service for them. Paul's discussion of his weakness will lead to his conclusion in the following chapter that Christ is strongest in him when he is weak.

Second Corinthians 11 compares the believers in Corinth to a betrothed bride. It also pictures them as Eve facing temptation from the snake in the garden in Genesis 3. Paul's job as their spiritual father is to protect them from the lies of false apostles. These deceivers disguise themselves as servants of righteousness in the same way that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Paul is shocked the Corinthians put up with such harsh treatment from these men. He sarcastically pretends to brag about himself as the false teachers do about themselves. Instead, he boasts mostly about the ways he has endured suffering in his service to Christ.

Chapter 11 follows Paul's warning in the previous chapter. There, he vowed to be as bold as needed when he comes to see them in person. He describes himself as a protective spiritual father trying to save the Corinthians from the deceptions of the false apostles to teach a false gospel about a false Jesus. He is shocked the Corinthians put up with their harsh treatment and says he has decided to foolishly boast in order to compete with the false apostles. His boasting about his service to Christ, though, is mostly a long list of all the ways he has suffered for Christ. That theme continues into chapter 12, where Paul explains just how much his suffering has improved his walk with Christ.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.