Did Paul suffer even though he wrote 'If God be for us, who can be against us'?
Yes. The same apostle Paul who wrote that if God is for us none can be against us endured severe suffering for the Gospel. Second Corinthians chapter 11 shows he received thirty-nine lashes from the Jews five times, demonstrating that the verse does not promise believers a pain-free life.
Les explains that when people read “If God for us, who against us?” they often assume God is promising that nothing can happen to a believer, but he says that is not what it means. He points to 2 Corinthians chapter 11, where the apostle Paul, whom he calls probably the greatest servant God ever had and even surpassing Moses a little, went through great things for the sake of the Gospel. The very same man who wrote “if God for us, who against us” had to go through suffering. Dropping into verse 24, Paul says that of the Jews five times he received 39 licks with those catenine tails.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
More Questions
Why does Paul's suffering show that 'If God be for us' does not mean nothing bad will happen to believers?
Because the very same Paul who wrote 'If God be for us, who against us' went through severe suffering for the Gospel, that verse cannot be a blanket promise of protection from suffering.
How can Paul say 'If God be for us, who against us' after suffering so many hardships?
Paul spoke/wrote 'if God be for us, who against us' even though he had been beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, and exposed to countless other dangers, not from an untested life of ease.