II Corinthians 11:27 · Bible study
2 Corinthians 11:27 Commentary: Paul's 'Fastings Often'
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the debate over Paul's 'fastings' in 2 Cor 11:27, voluntary discipline or involuntary hunger? Understand apostolic suffering and its meaning for faith.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul's litany of physical hardships demonstrates his apostolic authenticity through suffering, not comfort.
- Key words: 'labour' (κόπος) and 'toil' (μόχθος), painful effort; 'watchings' (ἀγρυπνίαις), sleeplessness; 'fastings' (νηστείαις), either voluntary or involuntary.
- Main debate: Are the 'fastings' voluntary religious disciplines (Calvin) or involuntary deprivation (JFB)?
- Theological theme: Apostolic suffering as credential, not comfort; redefinition of strength in weakness.
- Best use: Preaching or teaching on the cost of discipleship, the nature of true ministry, and the value of endurance.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure.
WEB World English Bible 2000
in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.
KJV King James Version 1769
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
in labouriousness and painfulness, in watchings many times, in hunger and thirst, in fastings many times, in cold and nakedness;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
in labour and toil, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
In labour and painfulness, in much watchings, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
En trabajo y fatiga, en muchas vigilias, en hambre y sed, en muchos ayunos, en frío y en desnudez;
Em trabalho e fadiga, muitas vezes em vigílias, em fome e em sede, em jejuns muitas vezes, em frio e nudez.
J’ ai été dans le travail et dans la peine, exposé à de nombreuses veilles, à la faim et à la soif, à des jeûnes multipliés, au froid et à la nudité.
in Mühe und Arbeit, in viel Wachen, in Hunger und Durst, in viel Fasten, in Frost und Blöße;
In arbeid en moeite, in waken menigmaal, in honger en dorst, in vasten menigmaal, in koude en naaktheid.
in fatiche ed in pene; spesse volte in veglie, nella fame e nella sete, spesse volte nei digiuni, nel freddo e nella nudità.
W pracy i w utrapieniu, w niedosypianiu często, w głodzie, i w pragnieniu, w postach często, i w zimnie, i w nagości;
в труде и в изнурении, часто в бдении, в голоде и жажде, часто в посте, на стуже и в наготе.
受勞碌、 受困苦，多次 不得睡， 又飢 又 渴，多次 不得食，受 寒冷， 赤身露體。
In hard work and weariness, in frequent watchings, going without food and drink, cold and in need of clothing.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Corinthians 11:27
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators broadly agree that Paul here catalogs real, embodied hardships. Barnes notes that 'weariness' (κόπος) suggests toil that beats a person down, while 'painfulness' (μόχθος) implies painful effort. The list pairs sleeplessness (ἀγρυπνίαις), hunger and thirst, cold and inadequate clothing. On 'fastings often' (νηστείαις πολλάκις), the commentators divide. Calvin argues these are voluntary fasts, distinct from the involuntary 'hunger and thirst' in the previous clause. Jamieson‑Fausset‑Brown disagrees, noting that the context of hardships, 'cold and nakedness', suggests these 'fastings' are simply going without food because nothing was available. Barnes leaves it open to either. All agree that the passage shows Paul's willingness to suffer for the gospel, a mark of true apostleship that contrasts sharply with the comfort‑seeking false teachers in Corinth.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Voluntary religious fasting: Calvin distinguishes 'fastings' from 'hunger and thirst' as a separate category; he reads them as purposeful devotional acts.
- Involuntary deprivation: Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and Grotius argue that the context of hardships (cold, sleeplessness, hunger) and the pairing with 'often' (πολλάκις) point to chronic, unwanted hunger.
What is clear: Paul endured severe physical suffering—sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, cold, and inadequate clothing—in the course of his apostolic labours.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Voluntary vs. involuntary fastings | Paul experienced episodes of going without food during his apostolic work. | Calvin argues these are voluntary religious fasts (like Acts 13:2-3), while Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and Grotius see them as involuntary consequences of deprivation, distinguished from 'hunger and thirst' only by intensity. |
| Suffering as apostolic credential | Paul uses his catalogue of hardships to validate his apostleship over against the false apostles. | Some Christians take this as a pattern for all believers, while Calvin notes that not every servant of Christ is called to endure such extremes; when present, though, suffering is a powerful testimony. |
| The meaning of 'cold and nakedness' | Paul lacked adequate clothing and shelter at times. | Whether 'nakedness' (γυμνότης) means literal nudity or simply insufficient covering (the lexicon favours the latter). Some see it as literal destitution; others as rhetorical emphasis on deprivation. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul is forced to 'boast' against opponents who have infiltrated the church. These false apostles (v. 13) likely boasted of credentials, eloquence, and a comfortable lifestyle. Paul's counter‑boast is a catalogue of suffering, beatings, imprisonments, and here in v. 27, bodily deprivation.
In the Roman world, manual labor carried deep social shame. Paul's choice to support himself as a tentmaker (Acts 20:34) meant he often lacked basic necessities. The word 'watchings' (ἀγρυπνίαις) points to sleepless nights from travel, danger, or prayer. 'Cold and nakedness' (ψύχει καὶ γυμνότητι) indicates insufficient clothing for winter travel (cf. Acts 28:2). The verse sits in a list that includes river perils, robberies, and city dangers (v. 26), a relentless rhythm.
The ambiguity of 'fastings' reflects Jewish practice. Acts 13:2, 3 and 14:23 show Paul and Barnabas fasting as a religious discipline. Yet the surrounding hardships lean toward involuntary lack. Either way, Paul redefines what qualifies a servant of Christ: not status or comfort, but willingness to endure loss for the sake of others.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for 2 Corinthians 11:27. The wording is consistent across major Greek witnesses. English translations vary in vocabulary ('weariness' vs 'labor' for κόπος, 'fastings' vs 'foodlessness' for νηστείαις), but these reflect translational choices rather than manuscript differences.
Reception History
Early Christian writers, such as Clement of Rome and John Chrysostom, held up Paul's sufferings as a model of apostolic endurance, though the specific verse is not universally quoted. Reformation interpreters, especially Calvin, used the passage to argue for voluntary fasting as a spiritual discipline and to underscore that suffering authenticates ministry. In the modern period, commentators like Barnes and Jamieson‑Fausset‑Brown have debated the precise nature of Paul's 'fastings,' but all agree the verse provides a vivid window into the physical cost of first‑century missionary work. It continues to be cited in discussions of Christian suffering, the value of simple living, and the difference between worldly and kingdom greatness.
Preaching This Verse
Three‑point outline
- The catalog of hardship. Paul names the physical costs of his calling: labor that wears down, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, cold, exposure. Each item is a specific, lived reality.
- The meaning of 'fastings'. Whether voluntary or involuntary, the point is total dedication. Paul's body itself became a sign of the gospel's power at work in weakness.
- The boast in weakness. Paul turns social shame, poverty, manual work, exposure, into apostolic credentials. Greatness in God's kingdom looks different than the world's version.
Five‑point outline
- Labour and travail (κόπος, μόχθος), painful, sustained effort in service.
- Sleeplessness (ἀγρυπνίαις), nights spent in travel, prayer, or anxiety for churches.
- Hunger and thirst, dependence on God and the kindness of strangers; involuntary want.
- Fastings (νηστείαις), either devotion or deprivation; both show a life not ruled by comfort.
- Cold and nakedness, lack of proper shelter and clothing; exposure to the elements.
Illustration hooks
- A single parent working multiple jobs yet still unable to afford warm coats or regular meals. Their daily grind is unseen but faithful.
- A missionary in a remote region who endures long treks, poor food, and sleepless nights, not for acclaim, but because the message matters more than comfort.
- A Christian who chooses a simpler lifestyle or a less prestigious career in order to serve others without being a financial burden, much like Paul's tentmaking.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is suffering a sign of God's approval or disappointment?
- If I haven't suffered like Paul, does that mean my faith is shallow?
- How do I know whether my hardships are fruitful for the gospel or just pointless pain?
Leading a Discussion
Paul's list of hardships forces us to confront what we consider 'success' in ministry and discipleship. The Corinthians were tempted by teachers who looked impressive (rhetoric, status, comfort). Paul counters with a résumé of weakness. This passage invites us to re‑examine our own assumptions about God's blessing and the cost of following Jesus.
Discussion questions
- What items in Paul's list surprise you or make you uncomfortable? Why?
- Why does Paul separate 'hunger and thirst' from 'fastings often'? What difference does the distinction make?
- How does the cultural shame of manual labor (tentmaking) shape the way this list would have landed on Corinthian ears?
- If 'fastings' here are voluntary, what does that say about Paul's spiritual disciplines? If involuntary, what does that say about his willingness to endure need?
- Can you think of a situation where someone's suffering became a credential, a reason to listen to them, rather than a mark of failure?
- How does this passage challenge the idea that God's blessing always means health, wealth, and comfort?
- What is one area of your life where you could embrace hardship (or have to endure it) as part of following Christ faithfully?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Jeremiah 38:9 | “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon. He is likely to die in the place where he is, because of the famine; for there is no more bread in the city.” |
| Acts 13:2 | As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.” |
| Acts 13:3 | Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. |
| Acts 14:23 | When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed. |
| Acts 20:5 | But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas. |
| Acts 20:11 | When he had gone up, had broken bread and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed. |
| Acts 20:31 | Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears. |
| Acts 20:34 | You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke emphasizes the striking contrast between Paul’s refined education and the degrading hardships he endured. For a man of such background to wander hungry and ragged while addressing elite audiences, Clarke argues, only an unshakable certainty in the gospel’s truth could explain such relentless sacrifice.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws a careful distinction between the two Greek words Paul uses for hardship. The first, kopos, originally meant grief so deep it involved beating the breast; the second, mochthos, is even stronger and implies painful, sorrowful effort. Both words together reveal the full weight of Paul's endurance.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin notes that voluntary fastings and hardships give an outstanding testimony of a true servant of Christ, yet these trials are not required of every believer. The one who endures them must not despise those with fewer or become proud. The main thing is serving Christ with a pure conscience; all else is secondary.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary highlights that Paul's "fastings often" were voluntary, distinct from the involuntary hunger and thirst he also suffered. It contrasts Paul's hardships with the Jewish proverb that a teacher deserved a good house, a fair wife, and a soft couch — Paul endured cold, sleeplessness and nakedness instead.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes draw attention to the specific physical hardships Paul endured, listing weariness, pain, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, frequent fastings, cold, and exposure. This detailed catalog emphasizes the full, bodily cost of his apostolic service.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Paul's labors were not merely tiring but genuinely painful to the flesh, though he found inward spiritual delight in them. He explains each hardship, noting that Paul's fasts were voluntary, not meritorious, and his cold and nakedness came from having no settled shelter during severe weather.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB insists that the fastings Paul lists here are involuntary deprivations, not voluntary devotional exercises. The Greek term means a lack of food, and the resulting hunger and thirst are its natural consequences, not separate hardships.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry emphasizes that Paul catalogs his sufferings not out of pride but to honor God, who enabled him to endure so much for Christ. Paul's point in listing hardships rather than privileges was to show how he far surpassed the false apostles who tried to undermine his authority.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley draws attention to the striking contrast between severe physical deprivation and dignified company. Despite having no shelter or adequate clothing, the speaker stands before rulers and kings without shame. For Wesley, this unashamed posture amid such hardship is the remarkable point.