2 Corinthians 11:27 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

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

Fastings - voluntary, to kindle devotions (Acts 13:2-3; Acts 14:23; 1 Corinthians 9:27); for they are distinguished from "hunger and thirst" which were involuntary. See, however, note, 2 Corinthians 6:5. The context refers solely to hardships, not to self-imposed devotional mortifications. "Hunger and thirst" are not 'foodlessness' (as the Greek of "fastings" х neesteiais (G3521)] means), but its consequences.

Cold and nakedness - "cold" resulting from "nakedness" [insufficient clothing: gumnoteeti (G1132)], as "hunger and thirst" result from 'foodlessness' (cf. Acts 28:2 Acts 28:2; Romans 8:35). 'When we remember that he who endured all this was a man constantly suffering from infirm health (2 Corinthians 4:7-12; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Galatians 4:13-14), such heroic self-devotion seems almost superhuman' (Conybeare and Howson).

2 Corinthians 11:27

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