2 Corinthians 11:21

2 Corinthians 11:21 says, I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.  Paul was addressing the reproach that people were treating him with.  He said he was going to be bold in defending his qualifications, though he knew he was speaking foolishly to do so.  Though Paul had been accused of being weak, he knew that his real power did not come from his own abilities.  Still, for the sake of the gospel he would present his qualifications.  Verse twenty-two adds, Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.  Paul said that even though he was an apostle to the Gentiles, he was a part of the nation of Israel by birth, just as much or more so than those who were attempting to discredit him.  When someone questions us about our faith today, we can stand boldly as a part of God's people if we have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-three continues, Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  Paul asked if they were ministers of Christ.  I believe that he was asking what they might have done to feel superior to him.  Then he answers that he had worked harder and suffered more physically for the gospel than nearly anyone else.  He had been beaten, imprisoned, and threatened with death many times.  Again, Paul called it foolish to speak of these things, if they focused the glory on himself and not Christ.  Whatever we do for the gospel should always keep the focus on Christ.  Verse twenty-four states, Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  Paul said he had received thirty-nine stripes from the Jews five times.  Verse twenty-five adds, Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  Paul continues to speak about some of the things he had suffered for the gospel.  Three times he was beaten with rods, once he was stoned and three times he was shipwrecked, spending on night in the water.  These are not the acts of a weak man, but Paul still said it was foolish to speak about them.  We might ask why God allowed this to happen to Paul, but we must realize that there will always be great opposition to the gospel.  God doesn't call us to prosperity but to faithfulness.  Verse twenty-six continues,  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  Paul said he was continually on the move for the gospel and this often put him in great peril wherever he went, from both the Jews and the Gentiles.  Hopefully we today will never be threatened by those who call themselves God's people, but we can be assured that we will be at odds with the world, or those who don't believe in Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  Paul was not telling these things for his own glory, but to show his faithfulness to the gospel no matter what.