Did Paul Suffer for Jesus Christ?

II Corinthians 12:6-9

Paul suffered in the flesh for Christ. Paul’s Hebrew name was Saul, in honor of King Saul, who was of the tribe of Benjamin. Saul was born at the beginning of the first century. He was born in the Graeco-Roman city of Tarsus located near the Mediterranean Sea. Saul was unique in that he had a Hebrew religion, a Greek culture, and a Roman citizenship. However, Saul was never ashamed to admit that he was Jewish. As a matter of fact, he was proud of his Jewish background. Saul was a very educated man who studied under the famous teacher, Gamaliel, who was considered one of the greatest teachers at that time.

Paul had a superior knowledge of the Old Testament and he studied the rabbinical teachings of highly educated and respected scholars of his day. Paul could have told the people that he was highly educated, he studied under Gamaliel, and that he had a revelation of God, of which, they were not privy. However, Paul didn’t want to make a fool of himself because he could tell the truth about his education and people would start looking at him like he was the person that they should look up to. Paul certainly didn’t want that to happen. God had given Paul so many revelations about himself that Paul could have boasted about how good he was and that he knew all of these things about God because of his wisdom and education.

God knows our flesh and how wicked it is, therefore, God allowed Satan to afflict Paul in the flesh. The Lord had given Paul the knowledge and mystery of Jesus Christ and Paul knew that Jesus was God in the flesh. God had given Paul the revelation that the same God who talked to the prophets in the Old Testament was the same God who talked to him on Damascus road (Acts 9:3-7, I Corinthians 10:4). However, this same God didn’t want Paul to get besides himself and think more of himself than he ought. Therefore, Paul had a constant reminder of his weakness, in the flesh, so that he would be dependent on God’s grace. This revelation was not for Paul to show how great he was but this revelation was to show the greatness of Christ.

I believe, Paul felt that he could handle all this wisdom, knowledge and revelations that God had bestowed upon him. That’s why, I believe, Paul asked the Lord three times to take away the thorn in his flesh. However, once God told Paul his grace was sufficient, Paul never returned to God to ask him about his condition. Therefore, think it not strange that God would put restraints on any individual who has great revelations about the Deity of Jesus Christ. We should not think more of ourselves than we ought. Just because we have the revelation, knowledge, and mystery of God, we are to carry ourselves in such a way that we can walk in the love of Jesus Christ. Our purpose is to take the revelation and true gospel of Jesus Christ to a dying world.

Paul had a special mission and that mission was to be a light to the Gentiles. God didn’t want Paul to boast about how great he was. Paul was to boast about the greatness and power of God through Christ. Paul was to teach the goodness and mercy of God to the Gentiles through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul was to let them understand that they too could be saved through the power of God.

After his conversion, Paul was designated by God to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. God knew that Paul had to suffer for his name and he allowed Paul to go through his sufferings in the flesh so that God could be glorified and so that Paul could see God’s grace and love for him and the work that God called him to do. In Galatians, Paul continues his teachings about the Deity of Christ and the mystery of the gospel.

This is an edited excerpt from my book, "Understanding the Trinity, Three Persons vs Three Manifestations". To order call 1-888-280-7715