24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. [2 Corinthians 11:24-31, NRSV]
Saint Paul in prison, Rembrandt, 1627, via Wikimedia Commons
The Three Essential Elements in Ministry
We wrote earlier that in St Paul’s authentic ministry of the cross, three essential elements among other elements, are clearly observable.
- Firstly, he served Christ. After his pivotal encounter with the Risen Christ, Paul went through a complete change in his life. From one who zealously persecuted Christ’s followers, Scriptures testify to this Apostle of the Crucified Lord resolutely taking up a ministry of the cross in which he surrendered all other options, especially his own mistaken, death-dealing, agenda and freely chose to serve Christ.
- Secondly, in serving Christ, he suffered tremendously. Even though he would suffer tremendously in that service, he never gave up.
- Thirdly, he made immense sacrifices while serving Christ Jesus and his kingdom-cause.
In a word, he willingly embarked upon the excruciating service of the cause of the Crucified and Risen Christ, absorbing untold suffering and making immense sacrifices in the process. He ploughed on regardless, persevering and staying on course to the very end.
Concerning steadfastness in the service of Christ and his Church, Scriptures testify to the singularity of Paul’s grit and the grace of Christ that sustained his staying power. For instance, he proudly wrote to Timothy:
- “6 For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing [2 Timothy 4:6-8].
From Acts 20:24, we learn that Paul was ever-willing to sacrifice the value and preciousness of his own life, “if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Concerning Paul’s Suffering
Concerning suffering in service of the cause of Christ his Lord, references to Paul’s apostolic suffering speak volumes. In this regard, Luke has amply categorised in Acts 20-28 the suffering Paul’s work had brought to him:
- “The Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me,” (Acts 20:23) he says. He is kidnapped (Acts 21:27), beaten (Acts 21:30-31; 23:3), threatened (Acts 22:22; 27:42), arrested many times (Acts 21:33; 22:24, 31; 23:35; 28:16), accused in lawsuits (Acts 21:34; 22:30; 24:1-2; 25:2, 7; 28:4), interrogated (Acts 25:24-27), ridiculed (Acts 26:24), ignored (Acts 27:11), shipwrecked (Acts 27:41) and bitten by a viper (Acts 28:3).
In addition to Luke, Paul on his part has written multiple catalogues or descriptions of suffering. They serve more as recurring themes and specific examples rather than as a single, comprehensive list. A catalogue that has drawn much scholarly attention is 2 Cor 11:23-33 where Paul recounts his own experiences of hardship, including beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, trials, and other forms of persecution. Included in all this are physical pain, emotional distress, and social ostracisation.
An Enduring Insight on Weakness as Strength
Paul’s perspective on suffering is nuanced as he evaluated some types of suffering more positively than others. In all this, Paul offers an enduring insight which gives a special stamp on Christian spirituality. In the midst of suffering, his tenacious turn to grace is epic. Concerning his “thorn in the flesh” for example, three times he besought the Lord to have it removed, only to hear the Lord say to him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” This has yielded the profound Christian spiritual insight that Paul’s willing acceptance of weakness and dependence on God allows Christ’s power to flow through him to others. This helps Paul to gladly boast in his weaknesses such as hardships and insults, so that Christ’s power could rest on him. It highlights that true strength comes not from self-sufficiency but from acknowledging limitations and allowing divine help to fill them (See 2 Cor 12:7-10).
In sum, Paul’s Christian-specific insight on weakness leading to strength turns on four points:
- Weakness is an opportunity, not a final state. God’s power can be perfected in us in moments of human frailty.
- Acknowledging weakness takes one to God’s reservoir of help and strength;
- Humility serves to check against pride and arrogance and opens one to spiritual growth.
- Embracing personal weaknesses and difficulties “for the sake of Christ” can lead to spiritual resilience and peace.
All this gives flesh to the claim that serving in the faith community, like leadership, entails suffering. The Lord’s call to “take up one’s cross and follow him” is no fancy-talk; anyone who will not accept suffering as an essential element of service or leadership can neither serve nor lead.
And yet, all this having been said, the harsh reality of personal suffering while serving in ministry is something we should not gloss over too lightly. And the million-dollar question just does not go away:
- What if your engagement in this ministry at this time and place with these people has all but become impossible, that it has become so asphyxiating that you feel like your spirituality is facing an utter ruin?
We shall address this question briefly in the next post on the 16th of this month.
Copyright © Dr. Jeffrey & Angie Goh, October 2025. All rights reserved.
To comment, email jeffangiegoh@gmail.com.
