Paul spread the gospel despite his sufferings because he was driven by the love of Christ and sustained by his heavenly vision, while God providentially used his circumstances to reach the known world.
Les Feldick explains that Paul's physical sufferings were intense, yet his sole motivation was the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14) and the revelation he received in heaven. He used every opportunity, including his house arrest, to share the gospel with Roman soldiers, and God ensured the gospel reached the whole known world within thirty years.
2 Corinthians 5:14 — This verse directly states that Christ's love compelled Paul, which is the key motivation Les highlights for Paul's endurance.
2 Corinthians 12:9 — Paul gloried in his infirmities so that Christ's power would rest on him, explaining how he could minister despite weakness.
In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul lists his sufferings: labors, imprisonments, stripes, deaths, shipwrecks, perils from robbers, heathen, city, wilderness, sea, false brethren, weariness, hunger, thirst, fasting, cold, and nakedness. Despite all this, he persevered. In 2 Corinthians 5:14, he writes, 'For the love of Christ constraineth us,' showing that Christ's love was his driving force. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul says he will 'gladly glory in infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.'
Les emphasizes that Paul's physical suffering was extensive, including beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonment, all for the sake of the gospel. He was motivated solely by the love of Christ, not material gain or personal comfort. Paul also drew strength from his heavenly vision (2 Corinthians 12), which sustained him during torture. Les notes that God used even Paul's house arrest to spread the gospel, as Roman soldiers rotated and heard Paul's teaching, and Paul's unwavering focus on unreached millions kept him going.
Les teaches that Paul was sustained by what he saw and heard in glory (the third heaven). Even while being whipped, this vision kept him going. He also had a burden for the unreached millions of the Roman Empire, which drove him to continue despite the threat of death.
Les explains that despite limited technology, the gospel covered the whole known world in about thirty years. He attributes this to the providential rotation of Roman soldiers guarding Paul in house arrest; they heard the gospel and likely carried it throughout the empire. This was part of God's sovereign plan.
Paul's sole motivation was the love of Christ. He wasn't seeking power, wealth, or political clout. He had left his past wealth behind to become the apostle to the Gentiles. Despite constant opposition and false accusations, he pressed on because of Christ's constraining love.
Paul's Sufferings Detailed
Les describes Paul's physical hardships (traveling on foot, perils, hunger, cold) to emphasize his sacrifice for the gospel.
Boasting in Weakness
Les explains that Paul gloried in his infirmities so Christ's power would rest on him, rather than seeking worldly power.
Gospel Spread via Roman Soldiers
Les reveals how Paul's house arrest allowed Roman soldiers to hear the gospel and likely spread it throughout the empire.
Heavenly Vision as Sustainer
Les teaches that Paul's vision of heaven sustained him during torture and suffering.
Love of Christ Constraining Paul
Les shows that Paul was driven by the love of Christ, not personal gain, which kept him going despite opposition.
Paul's Sacrifice for the Gospel
Les emphasizes that Paul gave up wealth and status to suffer for the sake of reaching the Gentile world.
God's Commission and Suffering
Les notes that from the start, God told Ananias that Paul would suffer for Christ's name, and Paul knew this calling.
Burden for Unreached Millions
Les explains that Paul's burden for the unreached and the many trials he faced were all for the gospel.
2 Corinthians 5:14: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
Key verse showing Paul's motivation was Christ's love.
2 Corinthians 12:9: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Paul's perspective on his weaknesses as opportunities for Christ's power.
2 Corinthians 11:23-28: 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. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Lists Paul's specific sufferings, illustrating his endurance.
Paul endured beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonment without complaint, focusing instead on his mission. He found strength in Christ's power made perfect in his weakness, and he gloried in his infirmities so that Christ's power could rest on him.
Les teaches that Paul was driven by the love of Christ, which constrained him. Additionally, his heavenly vision and the burden for unreached millions compelled him to press on, regardless of suffering.
Les points to God's providence in placing Paul under house arrest in Rome, where rotating Roman soldiers heard the gospel and likely carried it throughout the empire, covering the known world within thirty years.
Watch the Teaching: Caught Up to the Third Heaven — 2 Corinthians 12 Explained