2 Corinthians 11:28 Meaning: Why Paul’s Anxiety Wasn’t a Sin
Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily: anxiety for all the assemblies.
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.
apart from the things without--the crowding upon me that is daily--the care of all the assemblies.
Besides those things that are without, the crowd [of cares] pressing on me daily, the burden of all the assemblies.
Meaning in one sentence
Paul lists his physical sufferings, then reveals the daily pressure that weighs heavier: deep concern for all the churches.
Context
Paul is writing to a church he loves, but one that has been swayed by teachers who question his authority. In this chapter he does something unusual: he lists his credentials as a servant of Christ. He recounts beatings, shipwrecks, stonings, hunger, cold and danger of every kind. Then he adds one more burden, and it is the one that presses on him every single day. It is not physical. It is the weight he carries for every congregation under his care. The false teachers boasted of their own achievements. Paul boasts instead of what he has endured, and especially of the concern that keeps him awake at night.
Key Words
The Greek word translated ‘anxiety’ here is merimna. It can mean worry, but it also means genuine care or concern. On its own it is neutral. Jesus told Martha she was anxious about many things, and that was a gentle correction. But Paul uses the same word for his own state of mind, and it is not a failing. It is the natural result of loving people. The root of the word suggests being pulled in different directions, distracted. Paul is not distracted from trusting God. He is drawn toward the needs of others.
The other key word is epistasis, which some early manuscripts read. It means a stoppage or a pressing in, like a crowd that rushes against you. Barnes describes it as ‘that which rushes upon me.’ This is not a calm, distant concern. It is a daily pressure that feels like being surrounded. Paul does not hide from it. He names it as part of his service.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have understood the phrase ‘those things that are without’ in two main ways. Some, like Chrysostom and a number of modern translations, take it to mean ‘besides the things I have left out of the list.’ Others, including many Protestant commentators, read it as ‘besides the external trials I have just mentioned.’ Both readings point to the same conclusion: Paul’s deepest burden was not what happened to his body, but what happened to the churches.
On the nature of his anxiety, Wesley notes that Paul’s expression is modest, ‘the care of all the churches’ rather than ‘the care of the whole church.’ Catholics and Orthodox have often seen this verse as a picture of apostolic solicitude, a model for shepherding that involves real emotional weight. Protestants have emphasized that this concern, though heavy, is never presented as a lack of trust in God. It is the cost of love.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume Paul is confessing to the same kind of anxious worry that Jesus warns against in Matthew 6. The word ‘anxiety’ sounds like a failure of faith. In fact, the Greek word merimna can mean either worry or legitimate concern, depending on the context. Paul is not scolding himself for a lack of trust. He is describing the weight of love he carries for people he cannot stop thinking about. The difference is not in the feeling but in the object: his concern is for others, not for himself.
Living This Out
Think of the people you carry with you through the day. It might be a friend going through a hard season, a family member far from God, a coworker who seems lost. That weight you feel is not necessarily a lack of faith. It might be the shape of love in your life. Paul did not try to shrug off his concern. He brought it to God and let it drive his prayers and his actions. This week, when your heart feels heavy for someone, you can name it honestly. You can ask God to sustain you under that pressure. He has not called you to carry the weight alone.
Main takeaway: Paul’s anxiety for the churches was not a lack of faith but the weight of love he carried daily for the people God had given him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Paul loved so many people that he thought about them every single day. It was like carrying a happy weight in his heart. You can pray for the people you love too, even when it feels heavy.
For ages 9, 12
Paul had been through terrible things: beatings, shipwrecks, and hunger. But he says the hardest thing to carry was his concern for all the churches. He worried about them like a parent worries about a child. That kind of worry is not the same as being afraid. It is love that keeps you awake because you care so much. When you feel that way about a friend or family member, you can ask God to help you carry it. He will not leave you alone under the weight.
Questions People Ask
Does this verse mean Paul struggled with sinful worry?
No. The Greek word for anxiety here can mean either worry or genuine care. Paul is describing the daily burden of loving and leading many churches. It is not the same as the anxious worry Jesus warns against in Matthew 6, which is rooted in distrust of God. Paul’s concern is for others, not for himself.
What are ‘those things that are without’?
Commentators disagree. Some think Paul means external trials like beatings and shipwrecks, which he has just listed. Others think he means ‘besides the things I have left out of my list.’ Either way, the point is the same: his internal burden for the churches was heavier than all his physical suffering.
Why does Paul mention the care of ‘all the churches’?
Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. He had planted congregations across Asia Minor, Macedonia and Greece. Many of these churches faced persecution, false teaching and internal divisions. Paul felt responsible for them, even those he had not visited recently, because he had brought them the gospel and remained their spiritual father.
Is it wrong to feel anxious about people I love?
Not necessarily. The Bible distinguishes between anxious worry that doubts God’s care and loving concern that leads to prayer and action. Paul’s ‘anxiety’ was the latter. If your concern for others drives you to pray and to serve, it can be a form of faithfulness. If it paralyzes you or makes you forget God’s provision, it has become something else.
How did Paul handle this daily pressure?
Paul does not give a formula here, but elsewhere he writes about casting all anxiety on God (Philippians 4:6, 1 Peter 5:7). He also spent time in prayer and relied on the support of fellow workers like Timothy and Titus. He carried the weight, but he did not carry it alone.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study