Yes—Paul faced constant satanic attack as part of Satan's determined effort to stop the advance of the newly emerging Christian movement.
Les Feldick explains that Christianity was still in its infancy and was being attacked from every direction imaginable (Clip 1). Paul's enemies pursued him from city to city, and the Jews especially became his chief opposition as he carried the gospel to the Gentiles (Clips 2, 5). Behind this earthly hostility was the 'mystery of iniquity' already at work—a constant adversary of true worship that confronted Paul in the Gentile world (Clip 4).
2 Thessalonians 2:7 — Paul himself said the mystery of iniquity was already at work—the continuing satanic opposition that Les connects to Paul's own ministry.
2 Corinthians 4:9 — Paul describes being persecuted but not forsaken, showing the reality of the attacks he endured and God's sustaining presence.
Scripture reveals that a satanic 'mystery of iniquity' was already at work in Paul's day (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Paul himself wrote that he was 'persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed' (2 Corinthians 4:9). The biblical record shows Paul being driven from city to city and facing opposition from both Jews and Gentiles as he preached the gospel.
Les teaches that Paul's persecution fits into Satan's continuing effort to oppose God's program. He points to 'the mystery of iniquity' Paul mentioned in 2 Thessalonians, which has been a constant adversary of true worship—opposing Israel through idolatry such as Baal and Moloch, and then confronting Paul as he went into the Gentile world (Clip 4). Les also emphasizes that Paul faced tremendous opposition from the pagan background, that Rome tried to stamp out Christianity because it was something new, and that the Jews were his chief opposition wherever he went (Clips 0, 2, 5).
Les says there was 'tremendous opposition from Satan' through the pagan background, which was trying to stamp out the new Christian idea. He also observes that the Roman Empire tried to stamp out Christianity because it was new, while it respected Judaism as an ancient religion. Behind all of this was the 'mystery of iniquity' that had been a constant adversary of the true worship of Jehovah God.
Les says Paul's enemies were his constant opposition, especially as he came down the shores of Greece. They pursued him from city to city because they had created hatred, not envy. The Jews were his chief opposition—everywhere Paul went, after the Jews rejected the gospel in the synagogue and he turned to the Gentiles, they opposed Christianity left and right.
Les explains that Paul had been set apart at Damascus to go the Gentiles and knew the work was not finished. Christianity was still in its infancy and attacked from every direction, and Paul was perplexed and persecuted, but he never gave up. The Lord promised him in Corinth, 'I have much people in this city,' so Paul did not run from his enemies.
Les compares Paul's situation to the account of Job. Satan wanted to touch Job, but God drew the line and said, 'You can only go so far.' In the same way, Paul could instruct the Corinthian church to deliver a sinning believer to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, but that would not touch the man's spiritual relationship with Christ.
Pagan and Roman Opposition
Les explains that Paul faced tremendous opposition from Satan through the pagan world, and Rome tried to stamp out Christianity because it was new, unlike the ancient Jewish religion which Rome respected.
Paul's Perseverance Under Attack
Les describes Christianity as still in its infancy and attacked from every direction; Paul was perplexed and persecuted and driven from city to city, but he never gave up and was not forsaken.
Enemies Pursuing Him
Les notes that Paul's enemies were his constant opposition, pursuing him from city to city because they were motivated by hatred rather than envy.
What Is Paul's Gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Explained Verse by Verse
Now, here comes Jesus of Nazareth, and he's making inroads into Judaism. And so for a religious fanatic, what does that mean? Got to stamp him out. He is ruining our culture. He's ruining our religion. And so Saul of Tarsus takes the lead in persecuting these Jewish believers who had recognized Christ as their Messiah. And he did everything he could to stamp them out. That's nothing new.
Mystery of Iniquity at Work
Les ties Paul's opposition to the 'mystery of iniquity' mentioned in 2 Thessalonians—a constant adversary of true worship that first attacked Israel through idolatry and now confronted Paul in the Gentile world.
Jewish Opposition As Chief
Les says the Jews were Paul's chief opposition everywhere he went, especially after he left the synagogue and went to the Gentiles; they opposed Christianity left and right.
What Is Paul's Gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Explained Verse by Verse
And Paul, or Saul, was putting his fellow Jews into that same position, blaspheme the name of Jesus, hate him like I do, or be put to death. And see, the man, after he found out that the one that he was persecuting was the one who really was his Old Testament Jehovah, oh, it just beat him down, and he never could quite get over it.
Satan's Limits
Les uses the Job account to show that Satan can only go so far—God sets the limits—and applies the same principle to Paul's teaching about delivering a sinning believer to Satan without touching that person's spiritual relationship with Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:7: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Paul's own words about a present, active satanic force opposing God's truth—Les uses this to explain the continuing opposition to Paul's ministry.
2 Corinthians 4:9: Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed:
Paul's personal testimony of enduring persecution while never being abandoned by God.
Job 1:12: And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
The scriptural example Les uses to show that God places limits on Satan's attacks.
Yes, according to Les Feldick. He describes Paul's opposition as coming from Satan through the pagan background and through the 'mystery of iniquity' already at work. The Jews and Romans were used by Satan to oppose Christianity, which was new and threatening.
No. Les says Paul was perplexed and persecuted, but he never gave up. Paul knew Christianity was still in its infancy and that he had been set apart to go to the Gentiles, and the Lord promised him people in Corinth, so he kept going.
Les says the Romans had respect for any ancient religion, including Judaism, because it went back into antiquity. But Christianity was something new, coming from the upstart of one man, so Rome had no compunctions about putting it to death.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Gospel Is Hidden From Some People — 2 Corinthians 4:1-4