2 Corinthians 11:28 kjv
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:28 nkjv
besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:28 niv
Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:28 esv
And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:28 nlt
Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Paul's Pastoral Burden & Anxiety: | ||
| Phil 2:19-20 | "I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy... for I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare." | Paul's desire for Timothy's genuine care for Philippi |
| Col 2:1-2 | "For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those in Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face..." | Paul's intense struggle and heart for unseen churches |
| 1 Cor 4:15 | "For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel." | Paul as a spiritual father's concern |
| 1 Thess 2:7-8 | "...we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel... but also our own selves..." | Paul's tender, mother-like care for believers |
| Gal 4:19 | "My little children, for whom I am again suffering the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!" | Paul's anguish for Galatians' spiritual formation |
| 2 Cor 6:11-13 | "Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians; our heart is unconstrained. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections." | Paul's open, burdened heart for the Corinthians |
| Acts 20:28-31 | "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock... For I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock..." | Paul warns Ephesian elders of future threats |
| Christ's Shepherd Heart & Concern: | ||
| Matt 9:36 | "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." | Jesus' compassion for the multitude's need |
| John 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." | Jesus as the ultimate caring Shepherd |
| Luke 19:41-42 | "And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, 'Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace!'" | Jesus' anguish over Jerusalem's spiritual blindness |
| Old Testament Leaders' Burdens: | ||
| Num 11:11-15 | "Why have you dealt ill with your servant? ... I am not able to carry all this people alone, for it is too heavy for me." | Moses' overwhelming burden leading Israel |
| Neh 1:3-4 | "...The remnant... are in great trouble and shame. ... As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days..." | Nehemiah's grief and burden for Jerusalem's state |
| Eze 34:2-6 | "...'Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?' ... My sheep were scattered..." | Condemnation of selfish, uncaring shepherds |
| Ps 122:6-9 | "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! 'May they be secure who love you!'... For my brothers' and companions' sake I will say, 'Peace be within you!'" | David's concern for Jerusalem's well-being |
| General Call to Care/Watchfulness: | ||
| Heb 13:17 | "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account." | Leaders' solemn responsibility for souls |
| 1 Pet 5:2-3 | "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you... not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock." | Instructions for elders to shepherd with care |
| Gal 6:2 | "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." | General call to share and alleviate burdens |
| Rom 15:1 | "We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves." | Duty to support and care for weaker believers |
| 1 Cor 12:25 | "...that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another." | Mutual care and concern within the Body of Christ |
| 1 Thess 5:14 | "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all." | Practical admonition to care for diverse needs |
| Warnings Against False Shepherds: | ||
| Jude 1:12-13 | "These are hidden reefs at your love feasts... shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds swept along by winds; fruitless trees..." | False teachers, concerned only for themselves |
2 Corinthians 11 verses
2 Corinthians 11 28 Meaning
This verse reveals an often-overlooked dimension of the Apostle Paul's suffering: an intense and constant mental and spiritual burden. Beyond the physical hardships he listed (imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks), he carried a daily, inescapable anxiety for the spiritual health and well-being of all the churches he ministered to. It signifies a profound, pastoral concern, an internal pressure stemming from his deep love and responsibility for the fledgling Christian communities.
2 Corinthians 11 28 Context
Paul's letter of 2 Corinthians, especially chapters 10-13, functions as a powerful defense of his apostleship against "super-apostles" who challenged his authority and doctrine in Corinth. In chapter 11, Paul, ironically "boasting" in weakness, contrasts his authentic apostolic sufferings with the superficial credentials of his opponents. He enumerates a litany of physical dangers, persecutions, and deprivations (imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks, perils of various kinds, hunger, cold, nakedness, vv. 23-27). Verse 28 serves as the culmination and climax of this list. After detailing extreme external hardships, he points to an internal, spiritual suffering—the pervasive anxiety for "all the churches"—which he places "besides other things," suggesting it's a distinct and perhaps even weightier burden than the physical ones. This deep, consistent concern highlighted the self-sacrificial nature of his leadership, in stark contrast to the self-promoting false teachers.
2 Corinthians 11 28 Word analysis
Besides other things (χῶρὶς τῶν παρεκτός - chōris tōn parektos): "Apart from these outward things." Chōris means "separate from, without." Parektos means "external" or "in addition to." This phrase serves as a pivot, shifting the focus from the preceding list of tangible, physical sufferings to an intangible, internal burden. It signals that what follows is distinct in nature, suggesting that this spiritual/emotional suffering is not just another item, but perhaps the deepest and most constant of his struggles.
there is (ἡ ἐπίστασίς μοι - hē epistásis moi): The article "the" combined with "is" highlights the definite and persistent nature of this burden. It's not a momentary event but an ongoing reality.
daily pressure (ἡ καθ' ἡμέραν - hē kath' hēméran):
- ἐπίστασις (epistásis): Can mean "visiting," "attention," or "assault," "onrush," "pressure." In this context, it vividly describes a persistent, unwelcome mental invasion or weight pressing upon Paul. It's like a besieging army constantly at the gates of his mind, not just a passing thought. It implies something that cannot be ignored.
- καθ' ἡμέραν (kath' hēméran): "Day by day," "daily." Emphasizes the unceasing, unrelenting nature of this pressure. It wasn't intermittent; it was a constant companion in his life, morning till night.
on me (μοι - moi): A dative pronoun, directly personalizing this experience. This pressure and anxiety are specifically Paul's, a heavy load he carries.
of my anxiety (ἡ μέριμνα - hē merimna):
- μέριμνα (merimna): Refers to "care, concern, anxiety, worry." This isn't necessarily a sinful, faithless worry (which Paul generally condemns, cf. Phil 4:6), but a profound, weighty sense of responsibility, a shepherd's deep concern for the flock entrusted to him. It's born of love and a sense of duty, not of doubt in God's power. It expresses his constant, heavy reflection on the challenges facing believers.
for all the churches (πασῶν τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν - pasōn tōn ekklēsiōn):
- πασῶν (pasōn): "All." Highlights the comprehensive scope of Paul's burden. It wasn't just for Corinth, or Philippi, but for every single community he had founded or ministered to across the vast Roman world. This signifies a burden of immense scale.
- ἐκκλησιῶν (ekklēsiōn): "Churches" or "assemblies." Refers to the diverse, scattered congregations of believers, each facing unique challenges from internal divisions, false teachings, persecution, and moral laxity. This multiplicity intensified his sense of responsibility.
Words-group analysis:
- "Besides other things, there is the daily pressure on me": This phrase makes a profound transition. After listing tangible, life-threatening adversities, Paul reveals a suffering that is internal, continuous, and potentially even more taxing than the external dangers. It suggests a form of "invisible suffering" that underlies his apostolic life. This "pressure" isn't a mere annoyance; it's a persistent spiritual and emotional burden that continually weighed upon him.
- "of my anxiety for all the churches": This clarifies the source and scope of the internal pressure. It highlights that his distress was not selfish but entirely devoted to the well-being of the Body of Christ. The collective weight of problems across all the churches represented an overwhelming, personal pastoral load, confirming his deep fatherly concern and apostolic fidelity.
2 Corinthians 11 28 Bonus section
This profound anxiety serves as compelling evidence of Paul's true apostolic authority, contrasting sharply with the "super-apostles" who prioritized personal glory or financial gain. Their ministry likely lacked such selfless, burden-bearing care. Paul’s admission of this constant pressure demonstrates a unique blend of vulnerability and strength. It's a reminder that true spiritual strength is often expressed in the willingness to bear heavy, even agonizing, responsibilities for others. Furthermore, this internal "pressure" and "anxiety" can be understood as spiritual "travail" or "birth pains" (echoing Gal 4:19) for the spiritual maturity and stability of believers, revealing the depth of his spiritual fatherhood. It shows that effective, godly leadership involves a profound investment of one's entire being – not just physical endurance, but also emotional, mental, and spiritual self-giving.
2 Corinthians 11 28 Commentary
In 2 Corinthians 11:28, Paul masterfully elevates his defense against the "super-apostles" by pointing not just to his external sufferings, but to a deeply internal and ongoing burden. This "daily pressure" of "anxiety for all the churches" reveals the very heart of his apostolic calling. It's a "holy anxiety" – a continuous, profound, and selfless concern stemming from genuine love and a sense of accountability for the spiritual growth, protection, and purity of the nascent Christian communities. This unique suffering, often invisible to others, underscored his authenticity more profoundly than any outward display. It illustrates that true spiritual leadership demands immense emotional and mental sacrifice, identifying with Christ's own shepherd heart for His sheep, and highlighting a greater spiritual cost than even physical persecution.
- Examples: A pastor experiencing sleepless nights praying for a congregant in crisis. A missionary grappling with the spread of false teaching among new believers. A ministry leader feeling the heavy responsibility of stewarding an organization for the Lord's purposes, often bearing the collective burdens of those they serve.