The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1916-08-31
LESSON FOR SEPT. 8
PAUL THE HERO.


!, LESSON TExT-II Cor. l1:s1-1.:10
GOLDEN TEXT-My grace is sufficient
IL iof w saia; 81 II cor. n:s. ~ = =,
This letter raises interesting ques-
lions for research and discussion, such
Las:
i. What is the difference between
lPaups heroism and that OF a soldier?
2. Is war essential to the development
of heroism? 8. Which courage is high
Ter, moral or physical? 81
I.Paul, the Hero I'll :21-22). To man
of sensitive nature, craving perfec-
/ ton, sarcasm stirs up the deepest Bit
/ terness OF the soul. We do not believe
Paul primarily desired to refuse these
false charges-they were unworthy OF
hfm-but the knowledge of his suffer-
}ings for the cause of Christ and the
truth of the gospel would augment his
power to serve the church. For the
sake Of those whom he had reclaimed
from heathenism he was willing to
seem to be Boosting. Literally he
says 81 speak by way of disparage-
ment (of myself) as though we had
been weak" yet he adds: "Whereinso-s
| ever any is bold, am bold ALSO" Paul
had as much to boast of as any one
of his Jewish opponents ". 21). "Are
they Hebrews? (Of the purest blood,
of one nation and languageO So am
T." Are they Israelites, worshiping
only one God? Are they Of the seed OF
Abraham, inheritors Of the ministry OF
the promise and the Messianic hope
and the kingdom of God? Are they
ministers of the Messiah. seeking to
bring all men into his kingdom? s.I
speak as fool. speak as one beside
himself. am more" In labors he
was more abundant; he had occupied
larger field with greater results. In
stripes above fmeasure-those inflicted
by the heather were not limited to
forty blows-besides other beatings re-
ferred to In this list. In prisons oft
(Acts 1929. frequently exposed to
death and to the perilS OF robbers by i
land and sea ". 24). "Five times
received forty stripes. save one, from
the Jews" ". 25). Thrice was
beaten with rods: once was I stoned"
tActs. IA :19). Thrice suffered ship
wreck" evidently not recorded in Acts.
Cor his shipwreck on the way to Rome
was later. "a night end a day In the
Deep" this not otherwise recorded.
"In journeyings often" suffering from
the perils OF hard travel, often on foot
In unciyilized regions. 'In perils OF |
water literally "fn rivers" Bridges !
were rare, and floods sudden and fire. |
quent. I'm perils Of robbers" Every |
road in Asia Minor then as now was
Infested with robbers. I'm perils Of |
his own countrymen !" "In perils by |
the Gentiles !" I'm pelils In the city,.
I'm perils In the wilderness :" 'In per |
lis In the sea" from storms, rocks, pi-
,ates; "In perils among false breth- |
ren'-Judaising teachers who were
self-seeking instead of making the Cos
pei first (Gal. 2 a; III Cor, IL :13). "In
WEAKNESS and paInfulness," literally In
labor and travail; "In watchihgs Oft
en-" repeated nights OF sleeplessness
due to anxiety or pain. Gin hunger and
thirst. In Hastings Often" hunger un-
satisfied for long time. I'm cold and
nakedness;" In the mountain passes
BADLY shod and badly clothed. Besides
these things which were without, i'm
other trials such as the
care OF on anxiety over the churches
fvv. 80, 33).
II. Gods Sustaining Grace (12 :1-10). +
To Paul God gave one OF the greatest
tasks over committed to man, viz, the
chanting of the gospel in heather
lands; founding churches; teaching
them the gospel truths Of the Lord Je-
sus. He wrote to these churches two
hfths OF the New Testament, thirteen
Of its twenty-seven books and this
work was accomplished under the
greatest difficulty, trials and suffering.
To sustain and guide, the Lord gave
him visions and revelations" (v. ~.
These revelations came to him from
The very beginning OF his Christian life
md continued in every great crisis. |
The first was given al his conversion,
twenty years before this letter was
written, when he saw Jesus In His
glory and received his marching or
lers. Again wv. 2-4), fourteen years /,
before, or about A. d. 43, when he was
n Antioch and first entered upon his
foreign missionary work. He obtained
ais gospel directly from the Lord. Sub
sequently he had other visions to srs-
ain and guide him.
Teachers ought to study this entire
section. beginning at chapter 10. Paul
'ays that as an apostle he did not la
,or In the fields OF others (10 :14-15).
He was not much concerned by what
lis enemies might say.
AS to his opinion Of them, read
,hapter 10. Ashamed 20 boast, yet FOR
hsir sakes he meets their foolish
s,sssrges by giving us this record.
Because Of these sufferings tv. 10Y he
axes pleasure in infirmities, reproach-