Why did Paul go through the things he suffered?
Paul endured suffering for the sake of the Gospel, not because God was against him. The same apostle who wrote that if God is for us none can be against us still went through great hardship; Scripture records that he received thirty-nine lashes five times from the Jews.
Les teaches from 2 Corinthians 11 that Paul, whom he considers perhaps the greatest servant God ever used, went through these things for the sake of the Gospel. The context of “If God for us, who against us?” does not mean nothing can happen to believers; Paul himself wrote it and still suffered. Les points to verse 24, where Paul says of the Jews five times he received thirty-nine lashes.
More Questions
What hardships did Paul experience according to 2 Corinthians 11?
Paul personally endured times of nakedness, cold, heat with no relief, and thirst in his apostolic labors.
Did Paul suffer if God was for him?
Paul, the same man who wrote Romans 8:31, went through great suffering for the sake of the gospel, showing that 'if God be for us' does not mean exemption from harm.
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.