2 Corinthians 7:5; Troubled On Every Side

2 Corinthians 7:5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

There was constant, heightened, conflict and spiritual warfare since his coming to Macedonia and Troas. He shared there was no rest and relief of the pressure upon him and his gospel team. They had to be, as it were, on the run. The word “fightings” describes being pressed or oppressed by angry persecutors and false teachers both outside the church, in their evangelism effort or within the church.

Recall the Apostle Paul spoke of the door opened for the gospel in 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

The Apostle Paul had sent Titus with a letter to the Corinthian church and he was awaiting Titus’ return with news of the state of the well-being of the church in Corinth.

What were these fears experienced by the Apostle Paul? Clarke obserevd well, “Uncertain conjectures relative to the success of his epistle; fears lest the severity of it should alienate their affections utterly from him; fears lest the party of the incestuous person should have prevailed; fears lest the teaching of the false apostle should have perverted their minds from the simplicity of the truth; all was uncertainty, all apprehension; and the Spirit of God did not think proper to remove the causes of these apprehensions in any extraordinary way.”

Had Christ not been at the centre of his heart, the Apostle Paul might have collapsed under the pressure. But because Christ was with him.

He was sustained and amidst the difficulties find strength and stability as the psalmist extols in Psalm 27:1-5 “A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.”

Thank God, He hides us in His pavilion, and we can be protected as we trust in Him and worship Him in faith, every fear is dispelled. Amen.