2 Corinthians 6:5
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
Original Language Analysis
πληγαῖς
stripes
G4127
πληγαῖς
stripes
Strong's:
G4127
Word #:
2 of 12
a stroke; by implication, a wound; figuratively, a calamity
φυλακαῖς
imprisonments
G5438
φυλακαῖς
imprisonments
Strong's:
G5438
Word #:
4 of 12
a guarding or (concretely, guard), the act, the person; figuratively, the place, the condition, or (specially), the time (as a division of day or nigh
κόποις
labours
G2873
κόποις
labours
Strong's:
G2873
Word #:
8 of 12
a cut, i.e., (by analogy) toil (as reducing the strength), literally or figuratively; by implication, pains
Cross References
2 Corinthians 11:27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.Acts 17:5But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Historical Context
Acts records multiple instances of Paul's sufferings: beaten and imprisoned in Philippi (Acts 16:22-24), riot at Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41), multiple assassination plots (Acts 23:12-15). Paul's own summary in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 provides even more detail: shipwrecks, rivers, robbers, sleepless nights, hunger, thirst, cold. These were not theoretical afflictions but the daily reality of apostolic ministry in the first century.
Questions for Reflection
- What voluntary hardships is God calling you to embrace for the sake of the gospel—whether 'labours,' 'watchings,' or 'fastings'?
- How does Paul's willingness to suffer for Christ challenge your own comfort-seeking and risk-avoidance?
- In what ways might the modern church need to recover Paul's model of ministerial credibility through suffering rather than worldly success?
Analysis & Commentary
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults (ἐν πληγαῖς, ἐν φυλακαῖς, ἐν ἀκαταστασίαις, en plēgais, en phylakais, en akatastasiais)—This second triad specifies concrete forms of persecution Paul endured. Plēgē means a blow or wound, referring to literal beatings (see 2 Cor 11:23-25: five times 39 lashes from Jews, three times beaten with rods by Romans). Phylakē (imprisonments) Paul experienced multiple times (Philippi, Jerusalem, Caesarea, Rome). Akatastasia (tumults/riots) refers to violent public disturbances, like those at Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41) or Jerusalem (Acts 21:27-36).
In labours, in watchings, in fastings (ἐν κόποις, ἐν ἀγρυπνίαις, ἐν νηστείαις, en kopois, en agrypniais, en nēsteiais)—The third triad emphasizes voluntary hardships Paul embraced for the gospel. Kopos denotes exhausting toil or hard labor—Paul supported himself through tentmaking while planting churches (Acts 18:3; 1 Thess 2:9). Agrypnia literally means 'sleeplessness' or 'watchings'—Paul sacrificed rest for prayer and ministry (cf. 2 Cor 11:27). Nēsteia (fastings) likely refers both to involuntary hunger due to poverty and voluntary fasting for spiritual purposes.
Verses 4-5 complete three triads (nine hardships total), moving from general to specific, from imposed suffering to voluntary sacrifice. Paul doesn't merely endure these trials passively but actively embraces hardship as the arena where apostolic ministry proves genuine. This contradicts both the Corinthians' triumphalism and modern prosperity theology.