1 Corinthians 4:10-12, Buffeted

1 Corinthians 4:10-12 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

The Apostle Paul shared of the physical abuse that he experienced in the work of the gospel. He used the word “buffeted”. It means “to strike with the fist or being treated roughly”. The contention between light and darkness, between the Word and the World, is so great that God’s servants face incarceration for sharing the gospel.

He is saying to some in Corinth that the work of the gospel at its crux involves the carrying of the cross as our Lord Jesus Himself experienced. The very opposite of what they thought about the gospel work. A humbling truth. Jesus was betrayed, maligned and flogged and crucified. He submitted Himself fully to do the Father’s will amidst pain and suffering. Jesus was scourged – it was the normal punishment before a crucifixion. The idea is that it must be as horrifying as possible. It means flogging with whips normally made of leather and sometimes weighted with pieces of metal or done (v26).

The historian Josephus recorded, “The victim is first stripped down to his loincloth. Then his feet are secured behind his body to rings or posts. His body is bent forward with his arms around a pillar and secured on the other side of the pillar exposing the victim’s bare back. A strong soldier was given a short handled whip that contained several leather strips or lashes. At the end of the lashes were secured pieces of bone or metal which would tear the flesh. The strokes were laid with full force and when the executioners were tired, the officers shouted, demanding more force. The effect was terrible. The skin and the flesh of the back were gashed to the very bone, where the armed ends of the lashes struck, deep, bloody holes were torn!”

May God for manifesting His love in the hearts of His servants that they have the strength to bear the cross. The Lord bless His faithful servants to be strengthening of His flock. Amen.