What happened to Paul when he began his ministry to the Gentiles?
As soon as his Gentile ministry began, Paul faced satanic opposition from every direction. He grew weary and nearly despaired of life itself, feeling that just as the gospel was gaining ground everything collapsed around him. He even despaired of life from his sickbed while continually defending his apostleship.
Les teaches that as soon as Paul began his ministry among the Gentiles, he came under satanic opposition from every possible direction. Paul grew weary and almost despaired of life itself because it seemed that just as he was getting the gospel off the ground, everything fell in on him. Though as human as anyone, he despaired even of life from his sickbed. Throughout the Corinthian letters, more than in others, Paul especially defends his apostleship, because the Judaizers argued that Peter had spent three years with the Lord and was their spokesman, while other factions also opposed him.