2 Corinthians 11:24 Meaning and Explanation
“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul recalls receiving the synagogue's harshest lawful beating, thirty-nine lashes, on five separate occasions.
What Does 2 Corinthians 11:24 Mean?
Paul begins listing specific sufferings. Five times he endured the synagogue discipline of forty lashes less one, the severe but legally limited scourging permitted under the law. The number was held at thirty-nine to avoid exceeding the limit and accidentally breaking it.
Each of these beatings was a public, painful ordeal, and he bore five of them. Paul names them not for sympathy but as evidence of a life laid down for the gospel. That he kept preaching after such treatment reveals a love for Christ and for souls stronger than fear of pain. The marks on his body became, in a sense, the credentials of his calling, written in suffering rather than honor.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 11:24
What does 2 Corinthians 11:24 mean?
Paul recalls receiving the synagogue's harshest lawful beating, thirty-nine lashes, on five separate occasions.