The Apostle Paul stands as a profound example of an afflicted saint, whose life and ministry were marked by significant trials and sufferings. His experiences, as recorded in the New Testament, provide insight into the nature of affliction and the sustaining power of faith.

Background and Ministry

Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was a zealous Pharisee who initially persecuted Christians. His dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19) marked the beginning of a life dedicated to spreading the Gospel. As an apostle to the Gentiles, Paul embarked on several missionary journeys, establishing churches and writing epistles that form a substantial portion of the New Testament.

Afflictions and Sufferings

Paul's ministry was fraught with numerous afflictions, which he detailed in his letters. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul provides a litany of his sufferings: "Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea; in my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles; in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers; in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches."

Paul's afflictions were not limited to physical hardships. He also experienced deep emotional and spiritual struggles. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, he speaks of a "thorn in the flesh," a persistent trial that kept him humble and reliant on God's grace: "To keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Faith and Perseverance

Despite his many afflictions, Paul remained steadfast in his faith and mission. His writings reveal a deep trust in God's sovereignty and purpose. In Romans 8:18, Paul expresses his perspective on suffering: "I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us." His ability to find joy and contentment in the midst of trials is further illustrated in Philippians 4:11-13: "I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

Paul's life exemplifies the paradox of Christian suffering: that through weakness, believers experience the strength of Christ. His afflictions served to advance the Gospel and demonstrate the sufficiency of God's grace. As an afflicted saint, Paul provides a model of enduring faith and unwavering commitment to the call of Christ, inspiring believers to persevere through their own trials with hope and confidence in God's eternal promises.Acts 20:22-24
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 21:13
Then Paul answered, What mean you to weep and to break my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Letter v. Prayer and Fasting.
... to the extent of his requirement; that afflicted saints may be ... over the lives of
the old Testament saints, you will ... We have also examples in the Acts of the ...
/.../letter v prayer and fasting.htm

Paul's Departure and Crown;
... of this duty; but to give you some examples of the ... As the apostle saith also to the
saints at Corinth ... he knew beforehand he was to be afflicted there (Acts 20:23 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/pauls departure and crown.htm

In the Second Place, Repentance and Grace are Obscured. ...
... From these examples they derive the universal rule that ... It has been said before that
saints suffer punishments ... is excused that he was not afflicted on account ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 17 in the second.htm

The Resemblance Between the Old Testament and the New.
... Continuation of the fourth proof from the examples of Isaac and Jacob ... to heaven,
they saw that the period during which the Lord afflicted his saints was but ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 10 the resemblance between.htm

Letter x. --For 338. Coss. Ursus and Polemius; Pr??f. The Same ...
... The saints on the other hand, take such to ... But Lazarus, after being afflicted in
worldly things ... that we, conducting ourselves after these examples, might truly ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter x for 338 coss ursus.htm

Of the Modes of Supplementing Satisfaction --viz. Indulgences and ...
... He also writes to the Corinthians: "Whether we be afflicted, it is ... only are passages
of Scripture wanting, but in the examples of all the saints of whom we ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 of the modes.htm

A Cloud of Witnesses.
... in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, evil-entreated (of ... as much
of an accumulation of examples as of ... than the notion that the saints of the ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter xiii a cloud of.htm

Necessity of Contemplating the Judgment-Seat of God, in Order to ...
... Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the ... 3. Such examples exist not in
the sacred volume only ... the prophets "thou wilt save the afflicted people; but ...
/.../chapter 12 necessity of contemplating.htm

Twenty Fourth Sunday after Trinity Prayer and Spiritual Knowledge.
... anything else hinders Christians and saints from obtaining ... presenting only frightful
pictures and examples of God's ... he afterward did when he afflicted Job with ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty fourth sunday after trinity.htm

The Character and Supports of Widows Indeed.
... In such cases the saints may plead God's honor and the glory ... Before I was afflicted,
I went ... David and Solomon were sad examples of the baleful effects of power ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxiv the character and.htm

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