Paul’s persecutions were primarily because he taught grace without the law. Modern Christianity likes to paint a picture of Paul being persecuted by the Romans for teaching a personal salvation through the man Jesus Christ. The modern picture shows Paul exalting Jesus as God, and a multitude of accusers decrying alternative gods to the Roman state.
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
To this Paul says is 2 Corinthians 11:1-33.
2 Corinthians 11:1-33 KJV
Would to God ye could bear with me a little in [my] folly: and indeed bear with me.
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him].
For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
But though [I be] rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.
Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
I robbed other churches, taking wages [of them], to do you service.
And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all [things] I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and [so] will I keep [myself].
As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
That which I speak, I speak [it] not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye [yourselves] are wise.
For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour [you], if a man take [of you], if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
Are they Hebrews? so [am] I. Are they Israelites? so [am] I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so [am] I.
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.
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
2 Corinthians 11:1-33 CSB
I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me!
For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband – to present a pure virgin to Christ.
But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!
Now I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”
Even if I am untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge. Indeed, we have in every way made that clear to you in everything.
Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you.
When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, since the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.
As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!
But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about.
For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.
I repeat: Let no one consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool so that I can also boast a little.
What I am saying in this matter of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but as it were, foolishly.
Since many boast according to the flesh, I will also boast.
For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools!
In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is arrogant toward you, if someone slaps you in the face.
I say this to our shame: We have been too weak for that! But in whatever anyone dares to boast – I am talking foolishly – I also dare:
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I.
Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman – I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death.
Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews.
Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.
On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers;
toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing.
Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses.
The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying.
In Damascus, a ruler under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to arrest me.
So I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands.
2 Corinthians 11: 1-33
Other Articles 2 Rightly Divide the Word What’s Imputed by Faith to Every Believer What does the Bible say about Salvation? and externally these websites http://pray4usa2day.com .
Paul suffered much at the hands of Jews, because of his teaching. Next to Christ no other character in the Bible suffered more for his faith. Second thought Job suffered deeply too. But in both cases Our Sovern God demonstrated his love and sovereignty.