TRV
Translation
King James Version
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Complete Jewish Bible
And besides these external matters, there is the daily pressure of my anxious concern for all the congregations.
Berean Standard Bible
Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
American Standard Version
Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.
World English Bible Messianic
Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Beside the thinges which are outwarde, I am combred dayly, and haue the care of all the Churches.
Young's Literal Translation
apart from the things without--the crowding upon me that is daily--the care of all the assemblies.
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In the KJVVerse 29,018 of 31,102
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Commentary on 2 Corinthians 11 verses 22–33
22 ¶ Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
Here the apostle gives a large account of his own qualifications, labours, and sufferings (not out of pride or vain-glory, but to the honour of God, who had enabled him to do and suffer so much for the cause of Christ), and wherein he excelled the false apostles, who would lessen his character and usefulness among the Corinthians. Observe,
I. He mentions the privileges of his birth (Co2 11:22), which were equal to any they could pretend to. He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews; of a family among the Jews that never intermarried with the Gentiles. He was also an Israelite, and could boast of his being descended from the beloved Jacob as well as they, and was also of the seed of Abraham, and not of the proselytes. It should seem from this that the false apostles were of the Jewish race, who gave disturbance to the Gentile converts.
II. He makes mention also of his apostleship, that he was more than an ordinary minister of Christ, Co2 11:23. God had counted him faithful, and had put him into the ministry. He had been a useful minister of Christ unto them; they had found full proofs of his ministry: Are they ministers of Christ? I am more so.
III. He chiefly insists upon this, that he had been an extraordinary sufferer for Christ; and this was what he gloried in, or rather he gloried in the grace of God that had enabled him to be more abundant in labours, and to endure very great sufferings, such as stripes above measure, frequent imprisonments, and often the dangers of death, Co2 11:23. Note, When the apostle would prove himself an extraordinary minister, he proves that he had been an extraordinary sufferer. Paul was the apostle of the Gentiles, and for that reason was hated of the Jews. They did all they could against him; and among the Gentiles also he met with hard usage. Bonds and imprisonments were familiar to him; never was the most notorious malefactor more frequently in the hands of public justice than Paul was for righteousness' sake. The jail and the whipping-post, and all other hard usages of those who are accounted the worst of men, were what he was accustomed to. As to the Jews, whenever he fell into their hands, they never spared him. Five times he fell under their lash, and received forty stripes save one, Co2 11:24. Forty stripes was the utmost their law allowed (Deu 25:3), but it was usual with them, that they might not exceed, to abate one at least of that number. And to have the abatement of one only was all the favour that ever Paul received from them. The Gentiles were not tied up to that moderation, and among them he was thrice beaten with rods, of which we may suppose once was at Philippi, Act 16:22. Once he was stoned in a popular tumult, and was taken up for dead, Act 14:19. He says that thrice he suffered shipwreck; and we may believe him, though the sacred history gives a relation but of one. A night and a day he had been in the deep (Co2 11:25), in some deep dungeon or other, shut up as a prisoner. Thus he was all his days a constant confessor; perhaps scarcely a year of his life, after his conversion, passed without suffering some hardship or other for his religion; yet this was not all, for, wherever he went, he went in perils; he was exposed to perils of all sorts. If he journeyed by land, or voyaged by sea, he was in perils of robbers, or enemies of some sort; the Jews, his own countrymen, sought to kill him, or do him a mischief; the heathen, to whom he was sent, were not more kind to him, for among them he was in peril. If he was in the city, or in the wilderness, still he was in peril. He was in peril not only among avowed enemies, but among those also who called themselves brethren, but were false brethren, Co2 11:26. Besides all this, he had great weariness and painfulness in his ministerial labours, and these are things that will come into account shortly, and people will be reckoned with for all the care and pains of their ministers concerning them. Paul was a stranger to wealth and plenty, power and pleasure, preferment and ease; he was in watchings often, and exposed to hunger and thirst; in fastings often, it may be out of necessity; and endured cold and nakedness, Co2 11:27. Thus was he, who was one of the greatest blessings of the age, used as if he had been the burden of the earth, and the plague of his generation. And yet this is not all; for, as an apostle, the care of all the churches lay on him, Co2 11:28. He mentions this last, as if this lay the heaviest upon him, and as if he could better bear all the persecutions of his enemies than the scandals that were to be found in the churches he had the oversight of. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? Co2 11:29. There was not a weak Christian with whom he did not sympathize, nor any one scandalized, but he was affected therewith. See what little reason we have to be in love with the pomp and plenty of this world, when this blessed apostle, one of the best of men that ever lived, excepting Jesus Christ, felt so much hardship in it. Nor was he ashamed of all this, but, on the contrary, it was what he accounted his honour; and therefore, much against the grain as it was with him to glory, yet, says he, if I must needs glory, if my adversaries will oblige me to it in my own necessary vindication, I will glory in these my infirmities, Co2 11:30. Note, Sufferings for righteousness' sake will, the most of any thing, redound to our honour.
In the last two verses, he mentions one particular part of his sufferings out of its place, as if he had forgotten it before, or because the deliverance God wrought for him was most remarkable; namely, the danger he was in at Damascus, soon after he was converted, and not settled in Christianity, at least in the ministry and apostleship. This is recorded, Act 9:24, Act 9:25. This was his first great danger and difficulty, and the rest of his life was a piece with this. And it is observable that, lest it should be thought he spoke more than was true, the apostle confirms this narrative with a solemn oath, or appeal to the omniscience of God, Co2 11:31. It is a great comfort to a good man that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is an omniscient God, knows the truth of all he says, and knows all he does and all he suffers for his sake.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 22–33. Public domain.
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AmbrosiasterAD 384
COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES
This happened because Paul adopted the habit of teaching the people entrusted to him on a daily basis. He worked during the day and taught at night, for he did not hesitate to put himself out for their sakes..
John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily 25 on 2 Corinthians
"In journeyings often, in hunger and thirst and nakedness, besides those things that are without." What is left out is more than what is enumerated. Yea rather, one cannot count the number of those even which are enumerated; for he has not set them down specifically, but has mentioned those the number of which was small and easily comprehended, saying, "thrice" and "thrice," and [again] "once;" but of the others he does not mention the number because he had endured them often. And he recounts not their results as that he had converted so many and so many, but only what he suffered on behalf of the Preaching; at once out of modesty, and as showing that even should nothing have been gained but labor, even so his title to wages has been fulfilled.
"That which presseth upon me daily." The tumults, the disturbances, the assaults of mobs, onsets of cities. For the Jews waged war against this man most of all because he most of all confounded them, and his changing sides all at once was the greatest refutation of their madness. And there breathed a mighty war against him, from his own people, from strangers, from false brethren; and every where were billows and precipices, in the inhabited world, in the uninhabited, by land, by sea, without, within. And he had not even a full supply of necessary food, nor even of thin clothing, but the champion of the world wrestled in nakedness and fought in hunger; so far was he from enriching himself. Yet he murmured not, but was grateful for these things to the Judge of the combat.
"Anxiety for all the Churches." This was the chief thing of all, that his soul too was distracted, and his thoughts divided. For even if nothing from without had assailed him; yet the war within was enough, those waves on waves, that sleet of cares, that war of thoughts. For if one that hath charge of but a single house, and hath servants and superintendents and stewards, often cannot take breath for cares, though there be none that molests him: he that hath the care not of a single house, but of cities and peoples and nations and of the whole world; and in respect to such great concerns, and with so many spitefully entreating him, and single-handed, and suffering so many things, and so tenderly concerned as not even a father is for his children-consider what he endured. For that thou mayest not say, What if he was anxious, yet the anxiety was slight, he added further the intensity of the care.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
In 2 Corinthians 11:28, the Apostle Paul pivots from a detailed catalog of his extreme physical sufferings to reveal an even more profound, constant, and internal burden: the daily, pressing solicitude for the spiritual well-being and doctrinal purity of all the Christian communities under his apostolic oversight. This verse unveils the immense emotional and spiritual weight of true pastoral leadership, presenting it as an authentic credential of his servanthood to Christ, far surpassing any superficial claims of his detractors.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse is strategically placed within Paul's "fool's speech" (2 Corinthians 11:1-12:13), where he reluctantly "boasts" to defend his legitimate apostolic authority against false apostles who had infiltrated the Corinthian church. Having meticulously detailed an astonishing list of external hardships—including imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks, and various perils—in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, Paul introduces in verse 28 a burden that transcends these physical trials. This internal, daily "care of all the churches" serves as the apex of his suffering, demonstrating that his commitment to the gospel and the flock was not merely external endurance but a deep, constant, and personal investment. It underscores that his true credentials lie not in worldly success or self-promotion, but in selfless service and profound identification with the struggles of the churches.
Historical & Cultural Context: Paul's ministry operated within a vast and complex Roman Empire, characterized by diverse cultures, nascent Christian communities, and significant challenges to the fledgling faith. Travel was arduous and dangerous, communication slow, and the establishment of new churches often met with hostility from both Jewish and pagan authorities. False teachers, often motivated by personal gain or a desire for prestige, frequently challenged the authority of legitimate apostles like Paul, introducing theological deviations and undermining pastoral leadership. In this environment, Paul's role was not merely to preach the gospel but to nurture, correct, and defend the integrity of these scattered and vulnerable congregations. The "care of all the churches" reflects the immense logistical and spiritual demands placed upon a pioneering missionary who was responsible for the spiritual health and growth of numerous, geographically dispersed, and often struggling communities.
Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within 2 Corinthians and Paul's broader theology. Firstly, it highlights The Authentic Nature of Apostolic Ministry, contrasting Paul's selfless, suffering servanthood with the self-aggrandizing claims of the false apostles. His "boasting" in weakness and burden, rather than strength, is a hallmark of his true calling, as he further elaborates in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Secondly, it emphasizes The Unseen Burdens of Spiritual Leadership, revealing that the deepest trials of ministry are often not external persecutions but the internal, emotional, and spiritual weight of caring for God's people. This "daily" pressing concern underscores the constant vigilance required for effective pastoral oversight. Finally, the verse speaks to The Unity and Interconnectedness of the Body of Christ, as Paul's care extends to "all the churches," demonstrating his comprehensive concern for the global Christian movement, not just individual congregations or personal success. This reflects the deep spiritual bond that linked the scattered communities and their apostolic founder.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Paul employs a powerful use of Contrast in this verse. Having just enumerated a litany of external, visible sufferings, he introduces an internal, unseen burden as something "beside" or in addition to those. This juxtaposition elevates the "care of all the churches" to a preeminent position, suggesting it was perhaps the most taxing of all his trials. The phrase "cometh upon me daily" functions as Hyperbole or Emphasis, underscoring the relentless and overwhelming nature of this internal pressure, making it clear that this was not a fleeting thought but a constant, pressing reality. Furthermore, the entire passage (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) serves as a form of Apostolic Credentials or Rhetorical Argumentation. Paul is not boasting for self-glory but to demonstrate the authenticity of his ministry through genuine suffering and selfless service, contrasting it with the superficial claims of the false apostles.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Paul's declaration in 2 Corinthians 11:28 profoundly shapes our understanding of true spiritual leadership and the nature of the church. It reveals that authentic ministry is not merely about preaching or performing miracles, but about a deep, sacrificial, and often anxious love for the people of God. This "care" extends beyond mere duty to a profound identification with the spiritual struggles, growth, and purity of the entire body of Christ. It underscores the theological truth that the church is not just an organization but a living organism, a family for whom leaders bear a weighty, spiritual responsibility. This verse also implicitly highlights the unseen cost of discipleship and leadership, demonstrating that the greatest burdens are often those of the heart, borne in solitude for the sake of others.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Paul's transparent confession in 2 Corinthians 11:28 offers a profound glimpse into the heart of a true servant leader and provides invaluable lessons for believers today. It challenges our often superficial understanding of ministry, reminding us that beyond the visible acts of service, there lies a deep, unseen well of emotional and spiritual investment. For those in leadership, it validates the often isolating and burdensome nature of pastoral care, encouraging them to find their strength in Christ amidst the daily pressures. For the congregation, it fosters empathy and prayer for their leaders, recognizing that their "care" is a profound and costly act of love. This verse calls all believers to cultivate a similar "care" for the spiritual well-being of their local church and the broader body of Christ, recognizing that we are all interconnected and responsible for one another's growth and faithfulness. It reminds us that genuine Christian living involves a selfless concern for others, mirroring Paul's apostolic heart.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What exactly does Paul mean by "the care of all the churches"?
Answer: By "the care of all the churches," Paul refers to the constant, pervasive, and often anxious solicitude he felt for the spiritual health, doctrinal purity, and overall well-being of the numerous Christian communities he had either founded or was responsible for overseeing. This was not a casual concern but a profound, daily burden (Greek, mérimna, G3308) that pressed upon him. It encompassed everything from addressing theological disputes and moral failings to ensuring the physical safety and spiritual growth of believers across a vast geographical area. It was an internal, emotional, and spiritual weight that surpassed even the physical hardships he endured, highlighting his deep, personal investment in the flock of God. This burden is part of his authentic apostolic credentials, contrasting with the superficiality of the false apostles in Corinth.
How does this internal "care" compare to the external sufferings Paul lists in the preceding verses?
Answer: In 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, Paul details an astonishing array of external, physical sufferings: imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, thirst, and various perils. While these were undeniably severe, verse 28 introduces a burden that Paul implies is even more profound because it is constant and internal. The "care of all the churches" is not a sporadic event but "that which cometh upon me daily" (Greek, episýstasis, G1999), a relentless, pressing concern that never ceased. This internal solicitude highlights that the deepest trials of ministry are often not visible to the eye but are borne in the heart, a testament to the emotional and spiritual cost of true leadership and identification with the suffering of the church.
Is Paul's "care" a healthy form of concern or an unhealthy anxiety?
Answer: While the Greek word for "care" (mérimna, G3308) can indeed denote an unhealthy, distracting anxiety about worldly things (as seen in Matthew 6:25), in Paul's context, it represents a holy and righteous burden. This was not a lack of faith or trust in God, but a profound, Spirit-led sense of responsibility for the spiritual welfare of the churches. It was a pastoral solicitude born out of deep love and commitment to Christ and His body, rather than a self-centered worry. Paul's "care" reflects the heart of a true shepherd who willingly carries the burdens of his flock, mirroring the ultimate Shepherd, Jesus Christ. It is a demonstration of his selfless devotion and a mark of authentic apostolic ministry.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Paul's profound "care of all the churches" in 2 Corinthians 11:28 finds its ultimate archetype and fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Paul's daily, pressing solicitude for the scattered congregations mirrors the relentless, self-sacrificial love and intercession of Christ for His bride, the Church. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, laid down His life for His sheep, not merely enduring physical suffering but also bearing the immense spiritual weight of the world's sin and the burden of humanity's brokenness. His earthly ministry was characterized by a deep compassion for the multitudes, a constant concern for His disciples' spiritual growth, and an unwavering commitment to the will of His Father, culminating in His atoning death and resurrection. Even now, Christ continues to bear the "care of all the churches" as He intercedes for believers at the right hand of God, actively nurturing, protecting, and perfecting His body. Paul's burden, therefore, is not just a personal trial but a participation in the very heart of Christ, who loved the church and gave Himself up for her, demonstrating the ultimate, perfect "care" that transcends all earthly suffering and anxiety.