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"We were burdened beyond measure..."

Text: 2 Corinthians 1:8

A PERSONAL TESTIMONY

Paul shared many personal aspects of his life and ministry not often found in the other epistles. This is one of them.

“For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,
of our trouble which came to us in Asia:
that we were burdened beyond measure,
above strength, so that we despaired even of life.”
2 Corinthians 1:8

1. “We do not want you to be ignorant, brethren”

a) Paul wanted to share some of the trials that he and his team experienced.

b) Ignorance does not help; candid information was shared.

2. “Our trouble which came to us in Asia”

a) This is Asia Minor.

b) One of the churches he founded was in Ephesus.

c) The seven churches mentioned in Revelation 2-3 were located in Asia Minor.

d) The word “trouble” is the same word “tribulation” (2 Corinthians 1:4).

3. “That we were burdened beyond measure”

a) Some of the things Paul experienced may be found in the Book of Acts (Acts 19).

b) At Ephesus

i) There was a riot.

ii) This was led by a man called Demetrius.

iii) Paul barely escaped.

4. “Above strength”

a) Paul was making a reference to human strength.

b) The pressure must have been greatly felt.

i) Physical

ii) Emotional

iii) Psychological

5. “So that we despaired even of life”

a) This was an honest appraisal of how Paul and his fellow-workers felt.

b) They felt that they were in peril of their very life if the mob had gone out of control.

c) This was the kind of tribulation that they endured; in the midst of it all, they found comfort in the Lord God. His presence and power must have mattered immensely!