Verse 23
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.
Ministers of Christ ... This is not, as suggested by some, a reference to a sinful "Christ party" at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:12); for, if it had been, Paul would not have said, "I more."
As one beside himself ... The RSV descends to the level of a ridiculous paraphrase in rendering this "I am talking like a madman." As Wallace said, "That certainly is not a translation of anything Paul said."[47] This has the same meaning of "as in foolishness" in 2 Corinthians 11:17.
Labors ... prisons ... stripes ... deaths ... Although somewhat of a loose summary of what he was about to relate, it is obviously extemporaneous. The amazing sufferings and tribulations suffered by Paul were so numerous that they tumbled over each other in his mind as he dictated these words. Aside from the Christ himself, whoever suffered as did Paul for the propagation of Christianity?
"All that follows from here to verse 28, inclusive, is proof of Paul's right to call himself a minister of Christ.[48] All of the things mentioned here at the outset would be elaborated further on.
[47] Foy E. Wallace, Jr., op. cit., p. 440.
[48] E. H. Plumptre, op. cit., p. 405.
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