The Conversion of St Paul by Peter Paul Rubens
In 2nd Corinthians 11, Paul is trying to refute the teachings of those false apostles who are leading his flock astray. Apparently they were claiming to be more qualified to teach than he was, and he decided to list his own credentials in verses 21b-28:
If they can brag, so can I, but it is a foolish thing to do. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Jews? So am I. Are they from the family of Abraham? Well, so am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a fool to talk this way, but I serve him better than they do. I have worked harder and have been put in jail more times. I have been beaten with whips more and have been in danger of death more often.
Five times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes with a whip. Three times the Romans beat me with a big stick, and once my enemies stoned me. I have been shipwrecked three times, and I even had to spend a night and a day in the sea. During my many travels, I have been in danger from rivers, robbers, my own people, and foreigners. My life has been in danger in cities, in deserts, at sea, and with people who only pretended to be the Lord's followers.
I have worked and struggled and spent many sleepless nights. I have gone hungry and thirsty and often had nothing to eat. I have been cold from not having enough clothes to keep me warm. Besides everything else, each day I am burdened down, worrying about all the churches.
It’s interesting that when Paul begins his “boast”, what does he spend most of his time boasting about? About his trials! All the bad things that had happened to him since he’d begun following Christ.
Hey, um, Paul? News flash! There are cooler things to brag about than getting whupped up on by the Romans.
But apparently this is what we are all called to do: to boast, not in our accomplishments, but in our struggles. (Not exactly the best way to pad the old resume, right?)
Consider James 1:2-4:
My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.
And as Paul himself wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:9:
But he replied, "My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak." So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am.
I wonder how that would look, if all of us as Christians spent time boasting not about our strengths, but about our weaknesses.
It would certainly set us apart from the world, wouldn’t it?
If they can brag, so can I, but it is a foolish thing to do. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Jews? So am I. Are they from the family of Abraham? Well, so am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a fool to talk this way, but I serve him better than they do. I have worked harder and have been put in jail more times. I have been beaten with whips more and have been in danger of death more often.
Five times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes with a whip. Three times the Romans beat me with a big stick, and once my enemies stoned me. I have been shipwrecked three times, and I even had to spend a night and a day in the sea. During my many travels, I have been in danger from rivers, robbers, my own people, and foreigners. My life has been in danger in cities, in deserts, at sea, and with people who only pretended to be the Lord's followers.
I have worked and struggled and spent many sleepless nights. I have gone hungry and thirsty and often had nothing to eat. I have been cold from not having enough clothes to keep me warm. Besides everything else, each day I am burdened down, worrying about all the churches.
It’s interesting that when Paul begins his “boast”, what does he spend most of his time boasting about? About his trials! All the bad things that had happened to him since he’d begun following Christ.
Hey, um, Paul? News flash! There are cooler things to brag about than getting whupped up on by the Romans.
But apparently this is what we are all called to do: to boast, not in our accomplishments, but in our struggles. (Not exactly the best way to pad the old resume, right?)
Consider James 1:2-4:
My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.
And as Paul himself wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:9:
But he replied, "My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak." So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am.
I wonder how that would look, if all of us as Christians spent time boasting not about our strengths, but about our weaknesses.
It would certainly set us apart from the world, wouldn’t it?
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