What was Paul's physical condition like?
Paul was physically downtrodden, beaten, and afflicted with physical problems; he was not a specimen of health. This was his condition as he traveled and faced ongoing problems. Even so, he persevered and established churches everywhere he went, contributing to Christianity as known today.
Les explains that as he thinks back over Paul's travels, journeys, and all his problems, he is amazed Christianity ever survived. Les wonders why God did not put the gospel in the hands of angels or at least several hundred people instead of depending almost primarily on one man. He notes that physically Paul was downtrodden, beaten, had physical problems, and was not a specimen of health. Yet in spite of it all, Paul persevered and established churches every place he went, which brings us to Christianity as we know it today. This comes in the context of Corinth's gross immorality and great commerce, where this one lone man entered.