Sermons

Paul has had quite the ministry. As we’ve mentioned, a lot of 2 Corinthians so far has involved his defense of his ministry, with a recent side-trip to talk about the actual Gospel message that is the heart of that ministry. As he returns to the discussion of his ministry this next section highlights the challenges, problems, and persecutions he has faced. It’s easy to read this as a sort of boast about how much he has been willing to put up with, but if we keep it in the context of the letter we see that it is Paul continuing to show that only someone with a true and valid message and honorable ministry would have to face these things. The sufferings he has gone through and his perseverance by God’s grace through them is yet more evidence of his devotion to the Gospel message he preaches.