‘Giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed; but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patient endurance: in afflictions, in necessary hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings.'
Paul wants them to know that he and his fellow-workers take great care not to behave in such a way as to cause any to stumble, or even to give cause for stumbling, so that discredit might come on their ministry. Rather do they bring credit on their ministry in various ways, through what they bear for Christ's name. They are true ambassadors for Christ in every way. Note the contrast of ‘giving no occasion of stumbling in anything' with ‘commending ourselves in everything'. Paul's dedication to serving them faithfully is wholehearted, both in what he does not do and in what he does do.
‘In much patient endurance.' They endure hardships patiently. The introduction of ‘much', distinguishing this from what follows, suggests that this is a heading under which the next nine items should be subsumed. What follows is then describing in more detail what they have patiently endured. This thought of patient endurance reopens the ideas with which the letter began (see 2 Corinthians 1:4-7, especially 2 Corinthians 6:6), and is constant throughout. As the Corinthians eat and drink with their idolatrous associations (2 Corinthians 6:14-16; 1 Corinthians 10:7; 1 Corinthians 10:18-21) Paul and his co-workers endure with much endurance, they eat and drink of the sufferings of Christ because they are yoked to Him (Mark 10:38-39; Mark 14:36).
It is then followed by a ninefold cluster, (the first item of which, ‘afflictions', was prominent in 2 Corinthians 1:4-7 compare also 2 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 4:8; 2Co 4:17; 2 Corinthians 7:4; 2 Corinthians 8:2; 2 Corinthians 8:13), which can be split into three threes, the first three describing their sufferings in general terms, ‘in afflictions, in necessarily determined hardships, in distresses', the second amplifying the detail, ‘in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults', and the third describing how they countered it, revealing their durability, ‘in labours, in watchings, in going without food'.
The Greek word for afflictions (thlipsis) refers to the pressures and anxieties of life that come our way. They may be external or internal ("conflicts without", "fears within," 2 Corinthians 7:5), although the term is regularly used of the harassment and affliction of God's people at the hands of the world. Ananke refers to hardships which must necessarily come on those who would serve Christ faithfully. They are sharers in the sufferings of Christ (2 Corinthians 1:5). Distresses (stenochoria) refers to being in tight corners or in narrow straits with no apparent way of escape, like an army platoon under attack in a long narrow pass with no space to manoeuvre or retreat, so that all they can do is fight on and press forward.
The second group of three is ‘in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults'. Their afflictions included an element directly resulting from men's hostility, whippings and beatings, periods in prison, and riotous, hostile crowds. They were not loved by the world.
‘Beatings' refers to physical blows that occurred as a result of mob action or court punishment. Paul reveals elsewhere that he was lashed on five occasions by Jewish authorities and whipped on three occasions with Roman rods (2 Corinthians 11:24-25). With regard to imprisonments, Luke records only the imprisonment in Philippi prior to the writing of 2 Corinthians (Acts 16:16-40). But Paul informs us in 2 Corinthians 11:23 that he had been imprisoned a number of times, more times than his opponents, although we do not know when and where. Riots occurred in many cities that Paul visited. They were often incited by Jewish antagonists who were envious of Paul's success among the Gentiles, and sometimes because their activities affected trade, especially as connected with idolatrous Temples.
The third group is ‘in labours (hard work and effort), in wakeful nights, in self imposed abstention from food.' For ‘labours', that is, ‘hard, physically demanding work' compare 2 Corinthians 10:15 for labouring in the Gospel, and 1 Corinthians 4:12 for labouring to support himself. He laboured in both ways, both spiritually and physically. ‘Wakeful nights' may well refer to nights of prayer, but may also include those caused by sleeplessness because of the burden he bore for the people of God (see 2 Corinthians 11:28-29), which would indeed no doubt result in prayer, and those caused by his many travels under all kinds of conditions. ‘Self imposed abstention from food' might occur because of the demands on his time that left no time to eat, or because of his desire not to make himself a burden on anyone so that he took food when he could, but may also indicate times of fasting so as to be able to concentrate on prayer, although if so it is not stressed.