What do the numbers say about Paul’s suffering?

Paul’s sufferings are detailed throughout the New Testament, primarily in his letters. Below is a comprehensive list of instances where Paul mentions suffering, the corresponding Greek word for the suffering, and whether the context refers to persecution or sickness.

Instances of Paul’s Suffering

2 Corinthians 11:23-27 – A Catalog of Paul’s Sufferings

Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

• “Stripes” (floggings): Greek: πληγὴ (plēgē) – Persecution
• “Imprisonments”: Greek: φυλακή (phylakē) – Persecution
• “Beaten times without number”: Greek: πληγὴ (plēgē) – Persecution
• “In danger of death”: Greek: κίνδυνος θανάτου (kindynos thanatou) – Persecution
• “Thirty-nine lashes (five times)”: Greek: πληγὴ (plēgē) – Persecution
• “Beaten with rods (three times)”: Greek: ῥαβδίζω (rhabdizō) – Persecution
• “Stoned (once)”: Greek: λιθάζω (lithazō) – Persecution
• “Shipwrecked (three times)”: Greek: ναυαγέω (nauageō) – Life’s troubles
• “Spent a night and a day in the deep”: Greek: βυθός (bythos) – Life’s troubles
• “Dangers from rivers”: Greek: κίνδυνος ποταμῶν (kindynos potamōn) – Life’s troubles
• “Dangers from robbers”: Greek: κινδυνεύω (kindyneuō) – Life’s troubles
• “Dangers from my countrymen”: Greek: κίνδυνος ἐκ τῶν ἔθνους (kindynos ek tōn ethnos) – Persecution
• “Dangers from Gentiles”: Greek: κίνδυνος ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν (kindynos ek tōn ethnōn) – Persecution
• “Dangers in the city”: Greek: κίνδυνος ἐν πόλει (kindynos en polei) – Persecution
• “Dangers in the wilderness”: Greek: κίνδυνος ἐν ἐρημίᾳ (kindynos en erēmia) – Life’s troubles
• “Dangers on the sea”: Greek: κίνδυνος ἐν θαλάσσῃ (kindynos en thalassē) – Life’s troubles
• “Dangers among false brethren”: Greek: κίνδυνος ψευδαδέλφων (kindynos pseudadelphōn) – Persecution
• “In labor and hardship”: Greek: κόπος καὶ μόχθος (kopos kai mochthos) – Life’s troubles
• “Through many sleepless nights”: Greek: ἀγρυπνία πολλάκις (agrypnia pollakis) – Persecution
• “Hunger and thirst”: Greek: πεινάω (peinaō) καὶ διψάω (dipsaō) – Persecution
• “Often without food”: Greek: νηστεία (nēsteia) – Persecution
• “In cold and exposure”: Greek: ψύχος καὶ γύμνωσις (psychos kai gymnōsis) – Persecution

2 Corinthians 12:7 – The Thorn in the Flesh

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!

“Thorn in the flesh”: Greek: σκόλοψ (skolops) – Persecution.

Also refer to Paul’s thorn: Was it sickness or persecution ?

Acts 9:16 – Jesus’ Prophecy of Paul’s Suffering

for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

“Suffer”: Greek: πάσχω (paschō) – Persecution

The Greek word πάσχω (paschō) in the New Testament primarily refers to suffering related to persecution, trials, or hardships, especially in connection with Christ’s suffering. It is not explicitly used to describe sickness

2 Timothy 3:11 – Persecutions and Sufferings in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra

persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!

• “Persecutions”: Greek: διωγμός (diōgmós) – Persecution
• “Sufferings”: Greek: πάθημα (pathēma) – Persecution

1 Corinthians 4:11-13 – Hunger, Thirst, Poorly Clothed, Beaten, Homeless

To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

• “Hunger”: Greek: πεινάω (peinaō) – Persecution
• “Thirst”: Greek: διψάω (dipsaō) – Persecution
• “Beaten”: Greek: κολαφίζω (kolaphizō) – Persecution

Galatians 4:13-14 – Weakness of the Flesh

but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time;

“Weakness of the flesh”: Greek: ἀσθένεια (astheneia) – Life’s troubles

Philippians 1:29-30 – Suffering for Christ

For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

“Suffer for His sake”: Greek: πάσχω (paschō) – Persecution

Additional Instances of Paul’s Persecutions and Sufferings

• Acts 13:50 – Persecution in Pisidian Antioch: Paul and Barnabas were expelled from the region: Greek: ἐκβάλλω (ekballō) – Persecution
• Acts 14:5-6 – Attempted Stoning in Iconium: Paul fled when Gentiles and Jews plotted to stone him: Greek: λιθάζω (lithazō) – Persecution
• Acts 14:19-20 – Stoning at Lystra: Paul was stoned and left for dead: Greek: λιθάζω (lithazō) – Persecution
• Acts 16:22-24 – Beaten and Imprisoned in Philippi: Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and imprisoned:
  • Beaten: Greek: ῥαβδίζω (rhabdizō) – Persecution
  • Imprisonment: Greek: φυλακή (phylakē) – Persecution
• Acts 17:5-10 – Mob Attack in Thessalonica: A mob incited by jealous Jews attacked the house where Paul was staying: Greek: ἐπιτίθεμαι (epitithemai) – Persecution
• Acts 17:13-15 – Persecution in Berea: Jews from Thessalonica followed Paul to Berea and stirred up the crowds: Greek: ταράσσω (tarassō) – Persecution
• Acts 18:12-17 – Opposition in Corinth: Paul was brought before the proconsul Gallio by the Jews: Greek: κατηγορέω (katēgoreō) – Persecution
• Acts 19:23-41 – Riot in Ephesus A riot broke out against Paul due to his preaching: Greek: θόρυβος (thorubos) – Persecution
• Acts 21:27-36 – Arrest in Jerusalem: Paul was falsely accused and arrested at the temple: Greek: συλλαμβάνω (syllambanō) – Persecution
• Acts 23:12-22 – Conspiracy to Kill Paul: Over 40 Jews took an oath to kill Paul: Greek: ἐπιβουλεύω (epibouleuō) – Persecution
• Acts 27:13-44 – Shipwreck on the Journey to Rome: Paul endured another shipwreck: Greek: ναυαγέω (nauageō) – Life’s troubles
• Romans 8:35-36 – General Reference to Hardships: Mentions tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword: Greek: θλῖψις (thlipsis), διωγμός (diōgmós) – Life’s troubles
• 1 Thessalonians 2:2 – Suffering in Philippi: Refers to the suffering and mistreatment he endured in Philippi: Greek: πάσχω (paschō) – Persecution
• 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 – Hardship in Asia: Paul describes being “utterly burdened beyond strength,” despairing of life itself: Greek: καθ’ ὑπερβολήν (kath’ hyperbolēn) – Persecution

Compilation Table

Persecutions	24 instances (73%)
Life’s troubles	9 instances (27%)
Sickness	0 instances (0%)

As you can see, clearly, Paul’s sufferings were not sickness, but rather persecution.