Stripes, Imprisonment, Tumults, Labors, Watchings and Fasting 2 Corinthians 6:5

Paul the apostle told the Corinthian church members how he and his companions were, “in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God”, and he added, “ in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses”. In chapter six and verse five of Second Corinthians, Paul adds to his list as he wrote, “stripes, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watchings and fasting” where we read:

In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

The verse begins, “In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors,...” Paul began with the words, “in stripes” which means “blows, wounds, public calamity, heavy affliction and plague”, “in imprisonments” or “being kept under guard or sentinels as captives in prison”, “in tumults” refers to “instability, a state of disorder, disturbance and confusion” “in labors” or “intense beating of the breast with grief and sorrow or intense work united with trouble and toil”. Paul and his companions also endured “public calamity and blows, being in prison, instability and intense work” as being “ministers for God” on behalf of the gospel.

The verse goes on to say, “in watchings, in fastings;” Paul added the words, “in watchings” which means “sleeplessness or staying awake” “in fastings” or “voluntary or involuntary deprivation of food and drink”. Paul and his companions also suffered “sleepless nights” as well as “voluntary and involuntary” times when food and drink was absent from their lives.

When we think through these words of Paul, we may marvel at the “sufferings and afflictions” which were endured by he and his companions. The “gospel of Jesus Christ” was worth the cost to these “servants of God”, and though “beatings, prison, instability, intense work, sleeplessness and deprivation” came upon them, they continued steadfastly in their service to God.

Next time we see Paul adds to his list as he mentions, “pureness, knowledge, long-suffering, kindness, the Holy Ghost and love unfeigned,”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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