Devine Scripture

2 Corinthians 11:27

What does 2 Corinthians 11:27 mean?

A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 11:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 2 Corinthians 11:27 means

Beyond acute dangers, Paul endured chronic hardship: labor and painful toil, frequent sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, voluntary fastings, cold, and lack of adequate clothing. These are the quiet costs of ministry that often go unnoticed. They testify that his service was not a part-time performance but a life poured out. He is not complaining for sympathy; he is establishing the authenticity of a servant who places Christ’s mission above personal ease. Such endurance is not glamorous, but it reveals steadfast love for God’s people and resilient dependence on God’s sustaining grace amid ordinary, grinding difficulties.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

In hard work and weariness, in frequent watchings, going without food and drink, cold and in need of clothing.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

in labouriousness and painfulness, in watchings many times, in hunger and thirst, in fastings many times, in cold and nakedness;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

In labour and painfulness, in much watchings, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

in labour and toil, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Context

Paul completes his catalogue of physical and environmental trials by describing ongoing deprivations (v.27). Having covered external hardships thoroughly (vv.23–27), he will now add the inward, daily burden of pastoral care (v.28) and his visceral reaction to others’ weakness and stumbling (v.29). These concluding elements show that true apostolic ministry involves both suffering in body and suffering in heart, transitioning naturally to his decision to boast in weakness (v.30) and to seal his truthfulness with an oath and an illustrative incident (vv.31–33).

v.26in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

v.27This passage

v.28Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:23

    Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.

  • Acts 14:23

    And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

  • James 2:15

    If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food,

  • Acts 20:34

    Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

  • Hebrews 11:37

    they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:9

    For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

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