2 Corinthians 11:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

See, indeed, what means he consented to use to escape the siege: "I was let down in a basket through a window." Although he desired to depart from this life, he also sought the salvation of men. Therefore he often devised such means in order to preserve himself for preaching. Nor did he refuse to use human measures when circumstances required it. Thus he was prudent and watchful. Where calamities were unavoidable, he resorted to grace alone. Where the temptation did not exceed human strength, he also devised many things himself. Yet here again he ascribed everything to God. As a spark of inextinguishable fire, falling into the sea, is swallowed by many waves but then rises again to the surface with equal brightness, so too blessed Paul was at times plunged as into an abyss, storm-tossed by calamities. Then he was delivered and appeared more radiant, remaining victorious in his sufferings.

Keep silent? Or refute the slander? Silence was not suitable. The excitable Corinthians, who loved to be carried away, often changed their favor. Today they considered one teacher best of all, tomorrow another, and the day after tomorrow a third. They readily endured even these impostors, the false apostles (2 Cor 11:19). They endured them even when the false teachers enslaved them, devoured them, robbed them, and boasted of their power and learning (2 Cor 11:20). Thus boasters could live and eat others' bread for nothing in Corinth. But the holy Apostle reluctantly resolved to compare himself and his ministry with the activity of the false apostles. These men boasted that they were Abraham's seed, that they were of Hebrew stock, and that they were Christians. The holy Apostle Paul also was of Hebrew stock and a disciple of Christ. More than this, the Apostle was compelled to say that he was not only a minister of Christ, but also a great ascetic and a wondrous sufferer for the name of Christ. He had many sufferings for Christ from every side. Until this time he had kept silent about them, knowing that all these labors and struggles of his were not the work of his nature, but signs of the grace of God dwelling in him. In himself, however, he counted only weaknesses as his own possession. Some readers of Paul's letter might have doubted the Apostle's words concerning his weaknesses. Therefore he calls the Lord God as witness to his words. Brethren, he says, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, blessed unto the ages, glorious and worshiped by all always, knows that I am not lying. To what point did evil tongues bring the Apostle? He had to swear by God Himself in defending himself. So now, too, slanderers look irreverently upon an oath and treat it in court as an ordinary thing, even abusing it. But their end will be according to their works (2 Cor 11:15). Truth confirmed by oath will triumph and will even be rewarded. Saint Paul the Apostle is an example of this.

Having uttered the name of God, he immediately said: "who is blessed unto the ages." God, he says, is praised and exceedingly glorified unto endless ages. Thus, having prepared the souls of his hearers to believe what he says, he begins the account in this way.

But this grief, to endure so many sufferings for every weak person, whoever he might be, oppressed him, constrained him, and wounded his heart... As though he contained the whole universal Church within himself, Paul suffered for each of her members." "And as a spark falling into straw or hay turns all that burns into one nature with itself, so he, wherever he went, brought all to the truth... If Paul had not breathed such a fire of zeal, he would not have kindled such fury in the provincial governor. Such is the character of an apostolic soul: to endure so much and never waver, but to bear courageously whatever may occur, and yet not rush thoughtlessly into dangers. See what means he consented to use in order to escape the siege. Through a window I was let down in a basket (cf. Acts 9:23; Gal 1:17-18), so that he might raise up those cast down. He endured attacks from the people in order to turn them away from demonic attack. He burned in order to quench the fiery darts of the evil one. The devil brought many temptations upon Saint Paul, but in all things he remained the victor." And since he conducted all his thoughts, feelings, dispositions, and deeds before the face of God, he also calls God as witness, singing to Him: He who is blessed unto the ages.

Was the account of Saint Paul's persecution in Damascus inserted here because this event had some connection with Saint Paul's rapture into heaven? Perhaps it stands here as an introduction. "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." He is both God and Father of the Lord Himself. But "Lord" is also a divine name. Therefore this says the same as "Father of God," and consequently the Lord Jesus Christ is God from God. "Who is blessed unto the ages." A heart that loves and reverently honors God, and always contemplates Him as a providential Father, cannot refrain from expressing such dispositions by some reverent and loving word when it lifts itself toward God. Saint Paul does this both here and in many other places. "He knows that I am not lying." He walked before God and conducted all his thoughts, feelings, dispositions, and deeds as before the face of God. His conscience pointed out to him no crookedness before God in any respect. With boldness he calls God as witness, both that what he says is true and that it was approved, ordered, and aided by God Himself.