2 Corinthians 11:32Meaning & 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.

But when the danger threatens all, that is, bishops, clergy, and laity, those who depend on others must not abandon those who depend on them. Therefore either all should go to a place of refuge, or, if someone must remain, care must be taken not to deprive those departing of the opportunity to receive spiritual nourishment. Thus all alike may live and endure whatever the Master of the house sends them.

They should spare it, not deprive themselves of it, as, sadly, one often hears today about suicides of the fainthearted, despondent, and desperate. Is life, this high gift of God, worth nothing to man, a being created according to the image and likeness of God? No, whatever may be said, apart from very rare cases of illness, the remaining suicides are people of unbelief, despair, and immorality. They are victims of offended and disappointed self-love, with which they lived as with their household deity. This self-love was shattered like some idol when it collided with reality, which does not submit to our whims and desires. They are to be pitied. But do not live as you wish; live as God commands. Is upbringing sometimes also guilty in suicides? It is not for us to decide. Statistics do not make this clear either. Ah, brethren, preserve your life and your health as a high gift from heaven. Avoid everything that hastens its decay or disorder. Use the powers of life for the good of your spirit while there is time and possibility. The hour will come when the soul parts from the body. Then it will be too late to value every breath. Before death, as they say, one cannot breathe enough. Thank God that the Lord sends us life and health. We too might not have had it, as our neighbors do not have it. The holy Apostle greatly valued God's mercy in preserving his life. He even pointed to it in the testimonies of God's favor toward him which we are considering. Moreover, God's special and extraordinary favor toward Paul was also manifested in visions and revelations of the Lord.

The God-speaking Luke described this in Acts 9. From his account we learn that when Paul came to Damascus and was baptized there by Ananias, he preached Jesus Christ the Son of God and stopped the mouths of the Jews there. Then they conspired to kill him. They watched the city gates day and night, and, as is clear from Paul's words, persuaded the governor to station guards at the city gates. Thus they sought to catch Paul and hand him over to death. But the disciples of Christ in Damascus let him down in a basket and thus delivered him from that calamity. What purpose did Paul have in narrating this incident? Since he had previously spoken generally about his sufferings and calamities, saying, "dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in cities, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brethren" (2 Cor 11:26), he described one of his calamities in detail. In this way he assured his hearers about the other calamities as well. Notice also that, having found a way to escape the calamity, he escaped it according to the commandment of his Teacher, who said: "When they persecute you in this city, flee to another" (Mt 10:23). But hear how he approaches the showing of the vision and revelation which God revealed to him.

But at the end of 38, Herod Agrippa, who enjoyed the favor of Emperor Caligula, again took Damascus from Aretas and the tetrarchy from Antipas, his son-in-law. What relation the governor of Damascus could have had to Paul we do not know. Probably the intrigues of the Jews were at work here, since they were angered by Paul's conversion to Christ (Acts 9:23).

By which he did not rush thoughtlessly into dangers or run to meet them: "See what means he consented to use in order to escape the siege... Where evil was unavoidable, he resorted to grace alone. Where the temptation did not exceed human strength, he devised many things himself."

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.

Chrysostom says: "See what warfare there was, if the ruler guarded the city because of him. When I speak of warfare, I mean Paul's zeal. If Paul had not breathed such a fire of zeal, he would not have kindled such fury in the provincial governor. Such is the nature of an apostolic soul: to endure so much and never waver, but to bear courageously whatever occurs. Yet it does not rush senselessly into dangers or run to meet them. See what means he agreed to use in order to escape the siege: 'I was let down through a window in a basket.' Although he desired to depart from this life, he also sought the salvation of men. Therefore more than once he devised such means in order to preserve himself for preaching. He did not refuse to use human measures when circumstances required it. So cautious and vigilant was he. Where evil was unavoidable, there he had recourse to grace alone. But where the temptation did not exceed human strength, there he contrived much on his own part. Yet here again he attributes everything to God.

"As a spark of unquenchable fire that falls into the sea is swallowed by the multitude of waves, but then again comes to the surface just as bright, so blessed Paul was now as though plunged into the abyss and tossed by calamities, then freed and appearing most radiant. He remained victorious in his sufferings. Behold the glorious victory. Behold the trophies of the Church. The devil brought many temptations upon Saint Paul, but in everything he remained the victor. Like a soldier who alone fights against the whole world, surrounded by enemy ranks yet suffering no harm, so Paul, appearing alone among Greeks and barbarians, everywhere on land and sea, remained unconquered. As a spark falling into straw or hay transforms all that burns into one nature with itself, so he, wherever he came, brought all to the truth and passed everywhere like a stream breaking through barriers. Like some wrestler who alone wrestles, pursues, and strikes down, or like a soldier who besieges walls and fights on sea and land, so Paul entered every kind of battle. He breathed fire, was unapproachable to all, embraced the whole world with one body, and scattered all by one tongue. Appearing everywhere without ceasing, he came to some, hastened to others, appeared among these, was carried to those, and flew faster than the wind.

"Governing the world as one house or one ship, he now drew out those who were drowning, now strengthened the exhausted. Now he gave orders to the sailors, now sat at the helm. He inspected the rudder, tightened the ropes, handled the oar, lowered the sails, and looked to heaven. He alone was everything: sailor, helmsman, sail, and ship. He endured everything only to free others from evil. Notice: he suffered shipwreck in order to halt the shipwreck of the world. He spent a night and a day in the deep, that he might draw men out of the depth of deception. He was in labors, that he might give rest to those who labor. He endured wounds, that he might heal those wounded by the devil. He sat in prisons, that he might bring out into the light those sitting in bonds and darkness. He was often near death, that he might deliver others from cruel sinful death. Five times he received forty lashes less one, in order to deliver those who scourged him from the lashes of the devil. He was beaten with rods, that he might bring others under the rod and staff of Christ. He was stoned, that he might free men from stony insensibility. He was in the wilderness, that he might draw men out of sinful desolation. He was on journeys, that he might stop those who had gone astray and open the path leading to heaven. He was in dangers in cities, that he might point to the city above. He endured hunger and thirst, that he might deliver men from the cruelest spiritual famine. He was in nakedness, that he might clothe the shameless in Christ's garment. He endured attacks from the people, that he might turn men away from demonic assault. He burned, that he might extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one. He was lowered in a basket through a window by the wall, that he might raise up those cast down. Shall we say more, when we do not know all that Paul endured?"