2 Corinthians 11:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“In labor and in weariness.” Labors gave way to dangers, and dangers to labors. They followed one another without interruption and did not give him the slightest rest.

“In labor and in weariness, often in watchings.” The afflictions that came from outside were not enough. He also wore himself down by his own labors, anxieties, and sleepless nights. “In hunger and thirst, often in fasting, in cold and nakedness.” While enduring all this, the teacher of the world did not have enough food or clothing. He contended naked and fought hungry. Moreover, he omitted much. This is the meaning of the expression, “besides the things that come from outside.” Even concerning what he mentioned, he did not speak of each thing individually, but only numbered what can easily be expressed by number.

Such a way of life is useful to us not only through the mortification of the body, but through love for neighbor. Through us, God also grants sufficiency to the weaker brethren.

And not only this, but also “in zeal and labor,” since I went on foot through all lands; “in hunger and thirst,” through lack of bread and water. This is apart from “fastings often,” which were voluntary, and “in cold” on the road, and “in nakedness” through lack of clothing.

Truly, for there can be labor without weariness. But here he also adds “in weariness,” in order to show that the labor itself was deadly. “Often in watchings.” His vigils were numerous. Some were voluntary, while others were forced. As one persecuted, he was compelled to keep watch in order to obtain help from God. He taught not only by day, but also by night, as is said in the Acts of the Apostles (cf. Acts 20:31). “In hunger and thirst.” While escaping the persecutions of the Jews, the Apostle had to endure hunger and thirst in deprivation. “Often in fasting.” He fasted often, so that he might be counted worthy of protection by God’s help. The one who fasts is the one who has food and abstains. He was “in cold and nakedness” when he suffered shipwreck. Of this it is said: because of the rain and cold, the foreigners kindled a fire and received us all on the island of Melita (cf. Acts 28:2).

“In labor and struggle,” that is, in the labor of teaching and in the struggle of manual work. “In watchings often,” for even in prison he did not give himself to sleep, as the events in Philippi testify.

“In hunger and thirst” is one of the involuntary labors. “In fastings often” is one of the voluntary ones. “In cold and nakedness” resulted from scarcity and extreme poverty.

“In hunger and thirst, in fastings often.” Among the labors and hardships endured for the success of the Gospel preaching, the Apostle points to hunger and thirst, and to frequent fasts.

These were, of course, voluntary and deliberate fasts, kept by vow or by Church ordinance for some God-pleasing purpose. They differed from involuntary fasts forced by lack of food, illness, or some other external cause; compare Acts 27:21. The Apostle probably calls these involuntary fasts “hunger and thirst.”

"I was far more in labors, immeasurably in stripes, more often in prisons, and many times near death. Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes less one." Why "less one"? The ancient law said: forty stripes may be given to one deserving bodily punishment, but no more, "lest, if he should exceed this and beat him with many stripes, your brother be dishonored before your eyes" (Deut 25:3). Out of fear that the prescribed law might be violated by an extra blow through mistaken counting, custom later established that one blow should be withheld. Thus Theophylact and Chrysostom explain it. "Three times I was beaten with rods"... Then the Apostle continues to list the tortures he endured from the Jews and his many different dangers.

The apostolic journeys over stormy seas were hard, but his wanderings along the land roads of the ancient East were no easier. They are not safe even now, and then were still less so. Rivers also offered no convenience for travel, because there were no bridges or regular navigation. During rains the rivers overflowed as turbulent streams, and afterward became shallow. On the road robbers attacked, and in places of lodging his kinsmen, the Hebrews, attacked him. They saw in Paul’s preaching a betrayal of the nation. Often they themselves stirred up the Gentiles against the Apostle. Dangers met him in cities. He was not safe in deserts either, because of beasts and every kind of creeping thing.

The apostles, martyrs, and venerable fathers endured so much in preaching the Gospel, in sufferings for the faith, and in the struggles of the spiritual life. Let us listen at least to holy Paul, who speaks of himself: "From the Jews five times I received forty stripes less one." That is, on five different occasions he received thirty-nine blows. "Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent in the deep.

“In labor and hardship,” εν κοπω και μοχθω. Μοχθος is also labor, but intensified, labor to the point of exhaustion. “In the labor of teaching and in hardship at handiwork” (Theodoret). Thus for the Apostle, “dangers followed labors, and labors followed dangers, alternately and constantly, and did not give him the slightest rest” (Chrysostom). “In watchings often.” “For even in places of refuge I did not give myself to sleep, as what happened in Philippi testifies” (Theodoret). There he spent the night in prayer, and later in Troas he spent it in conversation with the faithful. These are examples of how the Apostle acted everywhere and always. “External oppressions were not enough for him; he also overburdened himself with labors, sweats, and night vigils” (Theophylact).