2 Corinthians 11:27 Commentary and Bible Study

‘In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often.’ The Greek for ‘watchings’ means sleeplessness, forfeiting nights. These were nights without sleep, presumably because the apostle was tent-making, so that he would not be chargeable to the churches he was toiling as a tentmaker, putting in the hours late into the night to earn his keep because he would not take offerings when he was pioneering in Gentile areas, so that he could never be regarded as one who was ‘on the make’ and his witness discredited. Then also he would carry his wounds and his sickness on the great journeys he made to win souls. ‘In hunger and thirst, in fastings often.’ These are not religious fastings; they are going without food on journeys. There was so much to do in an effort to reach people. ‘In cold and nakedness’ because at times he was in the condition of a pauper, and yet he would go on doing the work of Christ, because of the eternal gains that would come from the work in the salvation of men and women.