Was Paul superhuman, or was he just as human as we are?
Paul was not superhuman; he was just as human as we are. He had the same passions, appetites, and feelings, and he could become discouraged or distressed. In II Corinthians, he had no rest in his spirit because Titus was missing, yet he still obeyed the Lord's call and remained triumphant.
Les teaches that Paul was heartbroken and distressed because Titus had not been able to keep his appointment at Choas. At the same time, the Lord revealed by a vision that Paul was to go over into Macedonia, or Greece, and preach the Gospel. Even though Paul had lost track of Titus and had no way of knowing what had happened to him, he was obedient to the Lord's call to go across the Aegean and begin his ministry in Macedonia. Les points out the contrast: Paul was pressed down, distressed, and suffering, yet he was always triumphant. These are tremendous lessons for everyone, because Paul was just as human as we are—he had the same passions, appetites, and feelings, and he could get down and he could get rejoicing.
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
More Questions
How could Paul be distressed and suffering and still always triumphant?
God always causes us to triumph, so Paul was simultaneously pressed down, distressed, and suffering, and yet always triumphant — the two things are held together, not opposites that cancel out.
Was Paul just as human as we are with the same feelings and passions?
Paul was just as human as we are, having the same passions, appetites, and feelings, so he could get down and he could get rejoicing.