June 29, 2025

Third Sunday after Pentecost

Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 11:21b-30

Other Readings: 1 Kings 19:19-21 and Luke 9:51-62

 

 

1. Paul identifies himself as a “Hebrew,” and “Israelite,” and a “son of Abraham” (v. 22). Those terms all seem to say the exact same thing: he was a Jew. Why might he have piled up those terms? And are there any differences in emphasis we might be able to find?

 

 

2. Because he is boasting here, Paul wrote, “I am out of my mind to talk like this” (v. 23). Put that into your own words to explain what he means.

 

 

3. Some, but not all, of the things listed here occurred in Acts. Make as many connections to the Book of Acts that you can.

 

 

4. Paul mentioned that he went through many sleepless nights. List some things that would have contributed to his sleepless nights.

 

 

5. Paul went through all these things because he was called to be an apostle / pastor. What things should you expect the pastors who serve you to go through?

 

 

1. There are hints that Paul’s opponents (the so-called “super apostles” in 2 Corinthians 11:5) were Jews and tried to leverage that to make themselves look great. So, Paul may be piling up terms here to show that no one could surpass his Jewishness. We might be also able to see the following differences in emphases:
   1. “Hebrew” may have been an emphasis on ethnicity. He wasn’t a Palestinian or a Greek who became a worshiping Jew; he was “pure-blooded.”
   2. “Israelite” might be an emphasis on religious and social things, rather than ethnicity. Think of how often God calls himself “the God of Israel” in the Old Testament.
   3. “Son of Abraham” might have been an on the covenant given to Abraham, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, whose pure gospel Paul preached.

 

2. This is an even stronger way of saying something like, “I feel so awkward saying this….” Or “this is so weird for me to say.” This kind of emphasis on himself is so antithetical to the selflessness of the gospel and apostolic ministry that he says that it’s like he’s lost his mind to talk this way.

 

3. Some of the parallels in Acts include:
   1. In Acts 9, right after the Lord appeared to him, Saul went without food and drink for days.
   2. On his first trip in Acts 14 he was stoned by Jews from Pisidian Antioch.
   3. In Acts 16 he was imprisoned by the Roman government.
   4. In Acts 19 he was in danger from a Gentile mob.
   5. Acts 20 tells a time when Paul preached late into the night.

 

4. Paul probably kept vigil with those who were suffering or near death. Paul probably also had physical pains that kept him up for time to time. Additionally, his sleeping accommodations probably stunk quite a bit, especially when in jail and when on the road. Since he supported himself as a tentmaker, perhaps he worked late into the night to make sure he had money to support himself. Perhaps he also stayed up late preaching to those who had a “9 to 5” job and were only available in the evenings.

 

5. You can expect your pastor to work hard. You can expect your pastor to be willing to stay up late with you in times of need. You can expect your pastor to willingly take on the pressure and concerns that also burden the people he serves. You can expect your pastor to be willing to go through physical violence for the sake of the gospel.