2Cor 11:23-33 | RWP | e4.org | As one beside himself ( παραφρονων ). Present active participle of παραφρονεω . Old verb from παραφρων ( παρα, φρην ), beside one's wits. Only here in N.T. Such open boasting is out of accord with Paul's spirit and habit. I more ( υπερ εγω ). This adverbial use of υπερ appears in ancient Greek (Euripides). It has no effect on εγω , not "more than I," but "I more than they." He claims superiority now to these "superextra apostles." More abundant ( περισσοτερως ). See on . No verbs with these clauses, but they are clear. In prisons ( εν φυλακαις ). Plural also in . Clement of Rome ( Cor . V.) says that Paul was imprisoned seven times. We know of only five (Philippi, Jerusalem, Caesarea, twice in Rome), and only one before II Corinthians (Philippi). But Luke does not tell them all nor does Paul. Had he been in prison in Ephesus? So many think and it is possible as we have seen. Above measure ( υπερβαλλοντως ). Old adverb from the participle υπερβαλλοντων ( υπερβαλλω , to hurl beyond). Here only in N.T. In deaths oft ( εν θανατοις πολλακις ). He had nearly lost his life, as we know, many times ( .; ).

‏ 2 Corinthians 11:23-33

As one beside himself ( παραφρονων ). Present active participle of παραφρονεω. Old verb from παραφρων ( παρα, φρην ), beside one's wits. Only here in N.T. Such open boasting is out of accord with Paul's spirit and habit.

I more ( υπερ εγω ). This adverbial use of υπερ appears in ancient Greek (Euripides). It has no effect on εγω, not "more than I," but "I more than they." He claims superiority now to these "superextra apostles."

More abundant ( περισσοτερως ). See on 7:15. No verbs with these clauses, but they are clear.

In prisons ( εν φυλακαις ). Plural also in 6:5. Clement of Rome (Cor. V.) says that Paul was imprisoned seven times. We know of only five (Philippi, Jerusalem, Caesarea, twice in Rome), and only one before II Corinthians (Philippi). But Luke does not tell them all nor does Paul. Had he been in prison in Ephesus? So many think and it is possible as we have seen.

Above measure ( υπερβαλλοντως ). Old adverb from the participle υπερβαλλοντων ( υπερβαλλω, to hurl beyond). Here only in N.T.

In deaths oft ( εν θανατοις πολλακις ). He had nearly lost his life, as we know, many times (1:9f.; 4:11).

Five times received I forty stripes save one ( πεντακις τεσσερακοντα παρα μιαν ελαβον ). The Acts and the Epistles are silent about these Jewish floggings (Mt 27:36). See on Lu 12:47 for omission of πληγας (stripes). Thirty-nine lashes was the rule for fear of a miscount (De 25:1-3). Cf. Josephus (Ant. IV. 8, 1, 21).

Thrice was I beaten with rods ( τρις ερραβδισθην ). Roman (Gentile) punishment. It was forbidden to Roman citizens by the Lex Porcia, but Paul endured it in Philippi (Ac 16:23, 37), the only one of the three named in Acts. First aorist passive of ραβδιζω, from ραβδος, rod, Koine word, in N.T. only here and Ac 16:22 which see.

Once was I stoned ( απαξ ελιθασθην ). Once for all απαξ means. At Lystra (Ac 14:5-19). On λιθαζω Koine verb from λιθος, see on Ac 5:26.

Thrice I suffered shipwreck ( τρις εναυαγησα ). First aorist active of ναυαγεω, from ναυαγος, shipwrecked ( ναυς, ship, αγνυμ, to break). Old and common verb, in N.T. only here and 1Ti 1:19. We know nothing of these. The one told in Ac 27 was much later. What a pity that we have no data for all these varied experiences of Paul.

Night and day ( νυχθημερον ) Rare word. Papyri give νυκτημαρ with the same idea (night-day).

Have I been in the deep ( εν τω βυθω πεποιηκα ). Vivid dramatic perfect active indicative of ποιεω, "I have done a night and day in the deep." The memory of it survives like a nightmare. Βυθος is old word (only here in N.T.) for bottom, depth of the sea, then the sea itself. Paul does not mean that he was a night and day under the water, not a Jonah experience, only that he was far out at sea and shipwrecked. This was one of the three shipwrecks-already named.

In journeyings ( οδοιποριαις ). Locative case of old word, only here in N.T. and Joh 4:6, from οδοιπορος, wayfarer.

In perils ( κινδυνοις ). Locative case of κινδυνος, old word for danger or peril. In N.T. only this verse and Ro 8:35. The repetition here is very effective without the preposition εν (in) and without conjunctions (asyndeton). They are in contrasted pairs. The rivers of Asia Minor are still subject to sudden swellings from floods in the mountains. Cicero and Pompey won fame fighting the Cilician pirates and robbers (note ληιστων, not κλεπτων, thieves, brigands or bandits on which see Mt 26:55). The Jewish perils ( εκ γενους, from my race) can be illustrated in Ac 9:23, 29; 13:50; 14:5; 17:5, 13; 18:12; 23:12; 24:27, and they were all perils in the city also. Perils from the Gentiles ( εξ εθνων ) we know in Philippi (Ac 16:20) and in Ephesus (Ac 19:23f.). Travel in the mountains and in the wilderness was perilous in spite of the great Roman highways.

Among false brethren ( εν ψευδαδελφοις ). Chapters 2Co 10; 11 throw a lurid light on this aspect of the subject.

In labour and travail ( κοπω κα μοχθω ). Both old words for severe work, combined here as in 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8, "by toil and moil" (Plummer). The rest of the list is like the items in 2Co 6:4ff.

In cold ( εν ψυχε ). Old word from ψυχω, to cool by blowing. See Ac 28:2. See the picture of the aged Paul later in the Roman dungeon (2Ti 4:9-18).

Besides those things that are without ( χωρις των παρεκτος ). Probably, "apart from those things beside these just mentioned." Surely no man ever found glory in such a peck of troubles as Paul has here recounted. His list should shame us all today who are disposed to find fault with our lot.

That which presseth upon me daily ( η επιστασις μο η καθ' ημεραν ). For this vivid word επιστασις see Ac 24:12, the only other place in the N.T. where it occurs. It is like the rush of a mob upon Paul.

Anxiety for all the churches ( η μεριμνα πασων των εκκλησιων ). Objective genitive after μεριμνα (distractions in different directions, from μεριζω ) for which word see on Mt 13:22. Paul had the shepherd heart. As apostle to the Gentiles he had founded most of these churches.

I burn ( πυρουμα ). Present passive indicative of πυροω, old verb to inflame (from πυρ, fire). When a brother stumbles, Paul is set on fire with grief.

The things that concern my weakness ( τα της ασθενειας μου ). Like the list above.

I am not lying ( ου ψευδομα ). The list seems so absurd and foolish that Paul takes solemn oath about it (cf. 1:23). For the doxology see Ro 1:25; 9:5.

The governor under Aretas ( ο εθναρχης Hαρετα ). How it came to pass that Damascus, ruled by the Romans after B.C. 65, came at this time to be under the rule of Aretas, fourth of the name, King of the Nabatheans (II Macc. 5:8), we do not know. There is an absence of Roman coins in Damascus from A.D. 34 to 62. It is suggested (Plummer) that Caligula, to mark his dislike for Antipas, gave Damascus to Aretas (enemy of Antipas).

Guarded ( εφρουρε ). Imperfect active of φρουρεω, old verb (from φρουρος, a guard) to guard by posting sentries. In Ac 9:24 we read that the Jews kept watch to seize Paul, but there is no conflict as they cooperated with the guard set by Aretas at their request.

To seize ( πιασα ). Doric first aorist active infinitive of πιεζω (Lu 6:38) for which see on Ac 3:7.

Through a window ( δια θυριδος ). For this late word see on Ac 20:9, the only N.T. example.

Was I let down ( εχαλασθην ). First aorist passive of χαλαω, the very word used by Luke in Ac 9:25.

In a basket ( εν σαργανη ). Old word for rope basket whereas Luke (Ac 9:25) has εν σφυριδ (the word for the feeding of the 4,000 while κοφινος is the one for the 5,000). This was a humiliating experience for Paul in this oldest city of the world whither he had started as a conqueror over the despised Christians.