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Today's Pathway: II Corinthians 11:29-33 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.

We ended yesterday with Paul writing that he was burdened every day with the care of the churches. He expands on that in verse 29 by saying that he is able to sympathize with those in the churches who are struggling. Because of his background, when he hears of a fellow Christian who is weak due to physical or emotional issues, or to persecution, or even to a difficulty in fully trusting the Lord, he understands what they are going through. He then mentions those who are offended. The word translated "offend" means "to cause to stumble". It carries the idea of being entrapped or being led into sin. Paul writes that when he hears about someone being enticed to go the wrong direction spiritually it causes him to "burn" with indignation. Albert Barnes commented,

"That is, he 'burned' with anger or with great agitation of mind at learning that any one had fallen into sin... It means that his mind would be in a glow of emotion; he would feel deeply; he could not look upon such things with indifference, or without being deeply agitated. With all he sympathized; and the condition of all, whether in a state of feeble faith, or feeble body, or falling into sin, excited the deepest emotions in his mind. The truth here taught is that Paul felt a deep sympathy for all others who bore the Christian name, and this sympathy for others greatly increased the cares and toils of his apostolic office."

In verse 30 Paul once again mentiones his boasting, but states that it does not deal with his successes, but with the weaknesses that he has faced. Some of these were enumerated in verses 23-28. Paul is not bragging about all the churches he started or the great numbers of people that he won to Christ. His focus is on how God brought him through the crises of life. The things that he had accomplished were not done as a result of his own strength, but were rather achieved by the power of God working through his own weakness. William Burkitt wrote,

"The apostle chose to glory in what Christ had enabled him to suffer, rather than in what He enabled him to do for Him. He had done very great and eminent services for Christ; but he speaks not a word about these, because his patient bearing of such sharp, long, and continual sufferings were undeniable proofs of his faith, patience, holy self-denial, and eminent love to God, and were a truer and greater cause of boasting than extraordinary gifts and miraculous operations."

In verses 32-33 Paul finishes by recounting the first time that the Lord brought him out of a dangerous situation. It occurred at the beginning of his Christian life, and introduced him to the life of hardships that he was about to undertake. At the same time, it showed him that God was able to supply his needs. Bruce Barton explains:

"Paul had come to Damascus with his head held high. After his conversion, he was forced to sneak out of the city under the cover of darkness. He couldn't even walk through the city gates. Although Christ had predicted that Paul would suffer much for him, this was the first time Paul had realized to what extent he would have to suffer. Hunted as a common criminal, he couldn't stand up to his accusers and defend himself with integrity. Instead, he had to run away. This was probably one of the weakest moments he had experienced in his life."