Les Feldick Bible Study

Why did Paul endure imprisonment, beatings, and shipwreck?

Paul endured imprisonment, beatings, shipwreck, cold, heat, and nakedness not to serve or please men, but because he was the bond slave of Jesus Christ. He could not please men and remain Christ's servant; his motivation was serving Christ, not seeking men's approval.

Les explains that Paul did not draw a salary and did not have to be beholden to anybody. If he needed money, he made tents, so he did not have to serve men. Paul asked whether he persuaded men or God, and said that if he yet pleased men, he should not be the servant of Christ, because you cannot serve both. Paul then said he suffered imprisonment, beatings, shipwreck, cold, heat, and nakedness—the things studied in the Corinthian letters—not just to serve men, but because he was the bond slave of Jesus Christ. Les connects this to Ephesians chapter 3, verse 1, as the whole motivation of the apostle.

2 Corinthians 11:23

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

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