“A Holy Brain-Cleansing”
Several days ago, I was sitting in 2 Corinthians class at NTBI, listening to my teacher explain the numerous sufferings that Paul endured. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, Paul wrote, “Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” As he was expounding on the text, he brought this passage into application by asking us if we had ever had a