What qualifies Paul’s reluctantly recited praises and hardships?

Paul asks readers to bear a little folly. The printed note identifies reciting his own praises, normally called folly and vanity, but constrained for entrusted souls’ good. With God’s jealousy he has espoused them to one husband to present a chaste virgin to Christ; he fears serpent-like seduction corrupting simplicity. If another Christ, Spirit or gospel is offered, they might well bear it. The if-case is not proof of a completed drift. He supposes he has done no less than great apostles and is rude in speech but not knowledge; complete omniscient knowledge is not claimed.

He asks whether free gospel preaching and humbling himself was a fault. He received wages from other churches for their ministry; when needy in Corinth he burdened no one because Macedonian brethren supplied lack, and will continue nonburdensome. This is not wholly unpaid labour. He says the glorying will not cease in Achaia, asks whether he lacks love (God knows), and will continue to cut off rivals’ occasion so their glory matches his. Such false apostles are deceitful workmen transformed into Christ’s apostles; Satan transforms into an angel of light, and his ministers into justice’s ministers with end according to works. No frequency of Satan’s disguises or completed defeat of rivals is given.

Again he asks not to be thought foolish, or to be received as foolish for a little glory. He says this glorying is not according to God but as in foolishness; many glory fleshly so he does too. Readers gladly tolerate foolishness while wise, and tolerate bondage, being devoured, taken from, exaltation and face-striking. He speaks according to dishonour as if weak, and dares likewise, speaking foolishly. No particular face-striker or financial scheme is identified.

Hebrew, Israelite and Abraham’s seed match his own lineage. Speaking less wisely about Christ’s ministers, he claims more labours, frequent prisons, immeasurable stripes and often deaths. Five times Jews gave forty stripes less one; three rod beatings, one stoning, three shipwrecks and night and day in sea depth follow. The rods are not identified as Roman and the sea account does not say he floated on wreckage. Journey perils include waters, robbers, own nation, Gentiles, city, wilderness, sea and false brethren, without swollen rivers or city mobs specified. Labour, painfulness, watchings, hunger, thirst, fastings, cold and nakedness accompany daily instance and care for all churches. The printed note explains daily incoming pressing labours, not every-hour anxiety. He asks about sharing weakness and burning at scandal, and will glory in infirmity if necessary.

God knows he does not lie. In Damascus the governor under King Aretas guarded the city to apprehend him. He was lowered through a window in a basket by the wall and escaped his hands. The basket’s weave, date, named helpers and a doorway escape alternative are not reported.