Why did Paul say he did not faint in 2 Corinthians 4:1?
Paul did not faint because he had received mercy and had this ministry. He was human and close to fainting, but he renounced hidden things of dishonesty, did not walk in craftiness, and did not handle God's word deceitfully. He was not in it for personal gain, wealth, or fame, but to see lost humanity given the gospel.
Les teaches that 2 Corinthians 4:1 is part of Paul's defense of his apostleship against the innuendos and attacks of the Judaizers and other forces in his life. Paul writes, 'Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not.' Les notes that Paul was close to fainting—he was human and, Les thinks, despaired. But Paul had renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, was not walking in craftiness, and was not handling the word of God deceitfully. Les connects this to chapter 2:17, where Paul says he is not as many who corrupt the word; the word 'corrupt' means to adulterate, like water mixed with wine. So Paul was not in the ministry for personal gain, wealth, or fame, but only to see lost humanity given the gospel.
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
More Questions
Why does Paul defend his apostleship again in 2 Corinthians 4?
In 2 Corinthians 4 Paul once again defends his apostleship because of all the innuendos leveled against him and the attacks of the Judaizers and other forces in his life.