II Corinthians Chapter 11 (Continued) 20~~For you love it {!}   {anechomai - 5 things the fakers do}: if any man reduces you to abject slavery   {first thing you lose in reversionism is freedom . . . your volition} - - and they do - if any man devours you   {they take and take and take . . . eat you up!   Yet they never give back} - and they do - if any man constantly straps it on you   {set of standard set up to impress you - Taboos} - and they do - if any man constantly exalts himself   {makes himself the issue - is self-absorbed} - and they do - or, if any man violent strikes you on the face   {Paul chews them out but legalists physically hit them   if they disagree} - and they do. {Note: Anechomai means 'to put up with'/tolerate again and again.} {Reality of Reverse Process Reversionism} 21~~I keep speaking {to the Corinthians and to us today} according to the standard of DISHONOR . . . as though because we ourselves had been powerless/faint hearted/deficient in authority/contemptible/weak . . . and yet, by whatever means, anyone WOULD BE courageous . . . (I speak in the sphere of foolishness) . . . I am courageous also. {Note: Paul uses lego (speak) instead of grapho (write). The Greek is very, very strong with all this offensive sarcasm. The pen literally screams at the Corinthians in the ministry of God the Holy Spirit. He is describing what they have been saying about him.} 22~~Are they Hebrews? Yes, they are.   {requires a yes reponse - yes they are} So am I! Are they Israelites? Yes they are. So am I! Are they the seed of Abraham? Yes they are. So am I! {Note: The Judaizers were claiming superiority over Paul in culture, nation, and race. Paul is refuting their claims starting with saying he is at least equal to them in these three areas.} 23~~Are they ministers {diakonos} of Christ? (I chatter as a psychotic) I . . . more than they! In the sphere of working to the point of exhaustion   {constant study and teach} much more abudantly . . . in prison more frequently   {persecuted for teaching the truth} . . . in wounds from floggings . . . to a greater degree . . . in the dangers of deaths . . . many, many times. {Paul's 'light afflictions' from II Corinthians 4:17 - verses 24-28} 24~~ Under the authority of the Jews . . . five times I was gifted with 40 lashes save one {5 times beaten with 39 lashes}. 25~~Three times I was flogged with rods.   {Roman punishment} Once was I stoned to death.   {actually killed then resuscitated} Three times I suffered shipwreck . . . a night and a day {24 hours} I have done in the deep. {Note: Under Roman law it was prohibited to beat a Roman citizen so these were serious errors for the Romans involved. Acts 27 shipwreck had not occurred yet so Paul was shipwrecked 4 times.} {Pairs of dangers} 26~~ In many times in travels {I have suffered}: in dangers/perils {skindunos} of rivers . . . in danger of pirates; in dangers from the source of my own race {unbelieving Jews} . . . in dangers from the source of Gentiles; in dangers in the city . . . in dangers in the desert; in dangers in the sea . . . in dangers among false brethren   {reversionistic believers}. 27~~ In fatigue and wearisome work in fatiguing conditions - in lack of sleep many times; in hunger and thirst - in want of food -many times . . . in cold and in lack of clothing {nakedness}. 28~~ Apart from outside matters {mentioned above} . . . the daily pressures that came upon me - the great sense of responsibility {care} of all the churches.   {as an apostle, Paul had authority over many churches} 29~~Who is insufficient? Am I not sufficient? Who is shocked/offended/or in pain? And I do not become inflamed with sympathy/indignation or readiness to help? 30~~If it is necessary for me to keep on boasting - and it is - I will boast in the things which concern my weaknesses/frailties/infirmities. {Note: Suffering is NOT to arouse the sympathy of others but is a Grace test from God to bring out the provision of God's grace.} {Paul calls on his Witness} 31~~The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . Who is worthy of praise for ever and ever . . . knows that I am not speaking falsely.   {or as a phony - the suffering and the motive of Paul   are both in view here - and Paul is saying as God is his witness,   his motives are pure} 32~~ In Damascus the 'Ethnarches'   {racial leader of the locals} of Aretas, the king   {and ruler of the Nabatens (sic)} was guarding the city of the Damascenes to arrest me. 33~~And through an aperture in the wall, I was lowered down in a basket, and slipped through his hands {escaped}. {Note: All of Paul's bragging comes down to Paul's being a helpless 'basket case'. Holding the rope was God! This is a very important ending of his bragging and is NOT by mistake. All we need to do is SIT IN THE BASKET . . . HE HOLDS THE ROPE!}