Who is weak, and I am
not weak?
Who is made to
stumble, and
I do not burn with
indignation?
If I must boast, I
will boast in the
things which concern
my infirmity.
The God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is blessed
forever, knows that I am not lying.
In Damascus that
Governor, under Aretas the King,
was guarding the city
of the Damascenes with a
garrison, desiring to
arrest me; but I was let down
in a basket through a
window in the wall,
and escaped from his
hands.
2 Corinthians 11: 29
-- 33
Paul in his continuance to defend himself against those who were against him and even
condemned him asked this question: "Who is weak," and then goes on to state that he was not
weak. And then speaking of himself in
answering this question: "Who
is made to stumble," and then goes on to say: "and I do not burn with indignation?" It is interesting, here in this statement,
in regards to burning with indignation, as the Greek word used in several
manners. And could be loosely
translated to be inflamed as this was also is used for the word fire but has a
more metaphorical use in this case in which he is speaking of emotions, that is
to be inflamed with anger, grief, or even lust. Paul had deep love for the Corinthian church and was more than
just being indignant regarding the false teachers and the false practices that
was occurring in the church causing a major division among Christian that
caused him to burn with indignation and they were a people in which he spent
time preaching the gospel to them. Paul
would not boast in regards to anything that would deny great the gospel and
diminish its value but he would speak in regards to his infirmity. Then Paul uses God as his witness that he
would not be lying in any way to them for a God knows all things. Paul speaks of the time in which he had to
be let down in a basket due to the governor in Damascus attempting to capture
him. This history of Paul, the
persecutions, and sufferings, and even all sorts of unkindness, even from
converts to Christianity in the Corinthian church, met by Paul who was a useful
servant of God. Let's get closer to
home and compare Paul's life with ours and those difficulties he faced and we
may find that our utmost diligence and services appear unworthy of notice, and
are difficulties in trials scarcely can be perceived. This may lead us to inquire whether we really are followers of
Christ. As we study Paul let us also
study patience, courage, and our firm trust in God. One thing we must do is to focus less on ourselves and more upon
God and those great concerns we should develop are godliness, and then to
consider all trials as nothing when they are sustained in a good cause. How can we do this? First, we must learn to be content with
things that the world calls mean, and ardently desire to do good to
others. Also, we must be animated with
the hopes of success even though we know about our own infirmities and I'm not
just speaking of physical infirmities of also of those infirmities that our mental
that may even stop us in our tracks to serve God. We must keep in view our obligations to our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ from home all our distinctions are recently. We must ever strictly adhere to truth, as in His presence as God
is everywhere and we are never outside of His presence. We refer to everything to His glory for he
is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and as Paul wrote: "Who is blessed forever."
Before I
begin Chapter 12 it would be good to get some background and especially some
historical background so that we can understand what Paul wrote especially in
versus one through six. I'm sure you
have wondered what was meant by the words of Paul when you read them. Many explanations have been given and have
some warrant for them and yet there still is a misunderstanding and I hope by
looking at history and its association with the Bible as well as archaeology
there will be some clarity. Archaeology
and biblical chronology have an association, not just any association, rather a
close association and are interdependent.
A working knowledge of biblical chronology provides the help in the form
of information and the establishment of the historical setting of Bible
events. Some would throw out
archaeology as unneeded and yet biblical archaeology will add to the source
that establishes historical knowledge of a period and this is done with the
production of new knowledge and as well as verification and clarifying
chronological issues. A dispute that
has not ended is the date of the birth and death of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The offense in the Hebrew Scriptures and in
the New Testament Scriptures have chronological significant and information
preserved in the Scriptures that may be of value especially as chronological
markers. Now this is true; those who
regard the Bible as inspired than the Bible becomes a controlling factor in
interpreting archaeological findings.
Those who do not see the Bible as inspired require objective criteria
outside the Bible itself. Irrespective
of one's predisposition in regards to inspiration there is great importance in
determining dates and chronological markers.
In the above portion we spoke about Paul's recounting to his readers his
account of his escape from Damascus.
And that it occurred during the governing ruler Aretas (Galatians 1:17),
who died in the year 40 A.D. and who reigned from 9 B.C. to 40 A.D. Josephus
rendered an account that provided details of Aretas’ boundary with Herod
Antipas (Josephus, Antiquities
18.5.3). Paul's escape from Damascus would have had to occur between
37 A.D. and 40 A.D. This was the view
of Dosker who wrote:
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As Tiberias died in C.E. 37, and as the Arabian affair was completely
settled in 39, it is evident that the date of Paul’s conversion must lie
somewhere between 34 and 36. This date is further fixed by a Damascus coin,
with the image of King Aretas and the date 101. If that date points to the
Pompian era, it equals C.E. 37, making the date of Paul’s conversion C.E. 34.
(T. E. Mionnet, Description des medailles antiques greques et romaines,
V [1811], 284f.). (Dosker
1986:288–289.).
This now is the beginning through our study of Chapter 12 and these
verses that are controversial and I will continue this in tomorrow's blog.
Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.
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Psalm 33:20
Seek the Lord:
listen to Him
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