CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION
CHRISTIANITY OASIS HAS PROVIDED YOU WITH THIS CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION STUDY. MOST HAVE HEARD OF THE WORD CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IN THE BIBLE ... BUT DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION MEANS. DID YOU KNOW THAT THE ACT OF CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IS AN EXPECTED PART OF THE CHRISTIAN WALK? LET US SEEK AND FIND THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION TOGETHER, SHALL WE?

THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS

CHAPTER 11

Greetings once more, and welcome back to Daily Bread. There are times in all of our lives when we just have to let off a little steam, and that was no different for Paul either. In this chapter, Paul begins with a word of caution about false apostles, because he knows that from our hereditary inclination to sin, we need reminders . . . repeatedly. Then he takes the opportunity to do some rightly deserved bragging, along with some constructive criticism for those Corinthians who remain apprehensive to accept his authority as an Apostle. Remember, that this letter, although it has a lot of recall about the people of Corinth being led astray by rumors, it’s main objective was to be sort of a thank you note to those who repented after they were led back to the truth. But as in every congregation, there will remain a few skeptics who need admonition above and beyond the majority.

I wish to God that you bear with me a little in my folly:

and indeed bear with me.

For I am protective over you with godly jealousy:

for I have espoused you to one husband,

that I may present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

But I fear, lest by any means,

as the serpent deceived Eve through his craftiness,

that your minds might become corrupted from the pureness that is in Christ.

whom we have not preached,

or if you receive a different spirit,

which you have not received,

or another gospel,

which you have not accepted,

For I believe I was not the least bit inferior to the very chiefest Apostles.
But though I am plain in speech, yet not in knowledge;

we have been made completely clear among you in all things.

You have to smile when you read Paul’s frankness. Basically, he just said, Hey, I rank right up there with all the top Apostles. And I may not talk with pretty words, but I’m no dummy, and we never hid anything from you.

Have I committed an offence in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I have preached to you the Gospel of God freely?
I even robbed other churches, taking wages from them, to do you service.

And when I was present with you, and in need of things,

I was an expense to no one:

and whatever I needed,

the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied:

and in all things I have kept myself from costing you anything,

and I will remain that way.

As the truth of Christ is in me,

no man shall stop me from boasting about this in the regions of Achaia.
Why? because I don’t love you? God knows I do.

I do, so that I may take away opportunity from them which desire opportunity;

that in whatever they glory, they may be found even as we.

This is a really admirable way of thinking that Paul just shared. Paul felt it was so important that he was no trouble to anyone, that he even thought that accepting money from other churches for his ministry, was robbery. Another thing that Paul points out is that evil just can’t wait for an opportunity to do it’s work. However, if the opportunity never arises, it can’t do anything. So, if evil works through people, and we do things that can prevent it from occurring, then, the person who it may have worked through, remains righteous. But, we have to be one step ahead of evil, because it camouflages itself sometimes in things that we don’t expect, as Paul explains:

For this is the manner of false apostles, deceitful workers,

disguising themselves as the Apostles of Christ.
And that’s no surprise, because even Satan himself,

changes himself into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also

are transformed as the ministers of righteousness;

whose end shall be according to their works.

Now, this is the part where Paul does a little bragging, and watch out, because he can be very candid.

I say again, Let no man think I’m a fool;

but if anyone thinks differently, still,

as a fool tolerate me, that I may boast myself a little.

In other words, Paul says, I’m no fool, but even if you think I am, humor me anyway while I brag a bit!

That which I speak,

I speak it not after the Lord,

but as it were foolishly,

in this confidence of boasting.

Paul always makes it clear whenever he wants you to know that this isn’t a commandment of the Lord, and it is his own opinion.

Being that many people take pride in the flesh,

I’ll speak proudly too.
Because you allow fools gladly,

seeing you yourselves are wise.

Very clever of Paul. He’s saying, Since you allow fools to convince you of things so readily, Hey, I’ll be a fool for you, being that you’re so smart!

Now, here’s the constructive criticism part:

You allow it, if a man brings you into bondage,

if a man devours you, if a man captures you,

if a man exalts himself over you,

And here’s the bragging part: In short, Paul is saying, If you believe in these people who are imposters of the gospel, look at my credentials, am I not worth believing?

Nevertheless wherever anyone is bold,

(I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
Are they Hebrews? so am I.

Are they Israelites? so am I.

Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
Are they ministers of Christ?

(I speak as a fool) I am more;

in labors more abundant,

in stripes above measure,

in prisons more frequent,

in deaths oft.
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes except once.
Three times I was beaten with rods,

once I was stoned,

three times 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 sleeplessness often,

in hunger and thirst,

in fastings often,

in cold and unclothed.

things which I deal with daily,

I also take care of all the churches.

Who is weak, and I am not weak?

Who is offended, without my grieving?
If it’s necessary for me to be prideful,

I will be prideful of the things which concern my weaknesses.

Paul explains more about those last few lines in the next chapter, so keep a look out for the reason why he’s proud of his weaknesses.

And if all those qualifications aren’t quite impressive enough, Paul adds:

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which is blessed for evermore,

knows that I’m not lying.

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king

assigned military troops in the city, seeking to arrest me:

And through a window in a basket I was let down by the wall,

and escaped his hands.

Acts 9:24

If enduring persecution is any indication of a person’s worthiness to be credible as a servant of Jesus Christ, Paul would certainly have to be among the most worthy ever. Hurry back soon, as we continue on with our study of this second letter from Paul to the Corinthians, right here at Daily Bread.