Just like our new friend He'man Paul also suffered emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. But Paul suffered physicallly as well!
2 Corinthians 1:3-11 says:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
According to Paul the purpose of suffering is found in verses 3-7. First, our All-Merciful Father wants to comfort us. When He comforts us, we are able to comfort others. And finally, when we share in the sufferings of Christ, we also share in his comfort.
Peter reminds us of the ultimate purpose in suffering. "He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." (1 Peter 2:22–25).
The Situation of Suffering (v. 8-9)
Here is a list of things Paul suffered acording to 2 Corinthians 11:23–28 and 6:3–10.
Many imprisonments.
Countless beatings.
He was often near death.
Stoned once.
Five times he received 39 lashes from the Jews.
Three times he was beaten with rods.
Three times he was shipwrecked.
Toil and hardship.
Many sleepless nights.
Hunger and thirst
Often without food.
Cold and exposure.
Had daily pressure of his anxiety for all the churches.
Afflictions.
Hardships.
Calamities.
Dishonor.
Slander.
Being treated as an impostor.
Paul was adrift at sea for a night and a day.
In danger from rivers.
In danger from robbers.
In danger from his own people.
In danger from the Gentiles.
In danger in the city.
In danger in the wilderness.
In danger at sea.
In danger from false brothers.
Three Things to Remember
You are not alone (We, our, and us are used 22 times in 8 verses).
You will suffer beyond what you can bear (v. 8).
Your suffering may cause you to feel like your dying (v. 9).
The Solution to Suffering (v. 9-11)
You must rely on God!
You must remember the times that God delivered you and believe that He will deliver you again!
We must pray for each other (v. 11).
Hope is Here!
I leave you with Paul's words to the Galatians, "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2).
The Suffering of Paul
Just like our new friend He'man Paul also suffered emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. But Paul suffered physicallly as well!
2 Corinthians 1:3-11 says:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
According to Paul the purpose of suffering is found in verses 3-7. First, our All-Merciful Father wants to comfort us. When He comforts us, we are able to comfort others. And finally, when we share in the sufferings of Christ, we also share in his comfort.
Peter reminds us of the ultimate purpose in suffering. "He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." (1 Peter 2:22–25).
The Situation of Suffering (v. 8-9)
Here is a list of things Paul suffered acording to 2 Corinthians 11:23–28 and 6:3–10.
Three Things to Remember
The Solution to Suffering (v. 9-11)
Hope is Here!
I leave you with Paul's words to the Galatians, "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2).