Robertson Word Pictures - 2 Corinthians 11:25 - 11:25

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Robertson Word Pictures - 2 Corinthians 11:25 - 11:25


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Thrice was I beaten with rods (tris errabdisthēn). Roman (Gentile) punishment. It was forbidden to Roman citizens by the Lex Porcia, but Paul endured it in Philippi (Act 16:23, Act 16:37), the only one of the three named in Acts. First aorist passive of rabdizō, from rabdos, rod, Koiné[28928]š word, in N.T. only here and Act 16:22 which see.

Once was I stoned (hapax elithasthēn). Once for all hapax means. At Lystra (Act 14:5-19). On lithazō Koiné[28928]š verb from lithos, see note on Act 5:26.

Thrice I suffered shipwreck (tris enauagēsa). First aorist active of nauageō, from nauagos, shipwrecked (naus, ship, agnumi, to break). Old and common verb, in N.T. only here and 1Ti 1:19. We know nothing of these. The one told in Acts 27 was much later. What a pity that we have no data for all these varied experiences of Paul.

Night and day (nuchthēmeron) Rare word. Papyri give nuktēmar with the same idea (night-day).

Have I been in the deep (en tōi buthōi pepoiēka). Vivid dramatic perfect active indicative of poieō, “I have done a night and day in the deep.” The memory of it survives like a nightmare. Buthos is old word (only here in N.T.) for bottom, depth of the sea, then the sea itself. Paul does not mean that he was a night and day under the water, not a Jonah experience, only that he was far out at sea and shipwrecked. This was one of the three shipwrecks-already named.