And I was with you in weakness: that Isaiah , in anxieties, tribulation, and persecution; and in fear and much trembling, because of the hostility of the persecuting Jews and Gentiles. S. Chrysostom and Anselm remark that the Apostle in his Second Epistle (xi30 and xii5 , 9 , 10), and elsewhere, gives the name of weakness to the anxiety he suffered from dangers, plots, exile, daily terrors, calumnies, and hatreds. And also, that Paul suffered great anxieties and persecutions at Corinth, is evident in that he needed to be strengthened against them by Christ in a vision (Acts xviii9). Moreover, shortly afterwards the Jews there stirred up a tumult against Paul, and dragged him to the judgment-seat of Gallio, the deputy of Achaia, and publicly beat Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, before him.
Was Paul really afraid of danger? Yes, he was, for even though he was Paul, he was still a man. This is not to say anything against him but rather about the infirmity of human nature. Indeed it is to the credit of his sense of determination that even when he was afraid of death and beatings, he did nothing wrong because of this fear. Therefore those who claim that Paul was not afraid of being beaten not only do not honor him, they diminish his greatness. For if he was without fear, what endurance or selfcontrol was there in bearing dangers? Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians
This again is another topic: for not only are the believers unlearned persons; not only is he that speaks unlearned; not only is the manner of the teaching of an unlearned cast throughout; not only was the thing preached of itself enough to stagger people; (for the cross and death were the message brought;) but together with these there were also other hindrances, the dangers, and the plots, and the daily fear, and the being hunted about. For the word weakness, with him in many places stands for the persecutions: as also elsewhere. My weakness which I had in my flesh you did not set at nought: Galatians 4:13-14 and again, If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern my weakness. 2 Corinthians 11:30 What [weakness]? The governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes, desirous to apprehend me. 2 Corinthians 5:32 And again, Wherefore I take pleasure in weakness: 2 Corinthians 12:10 then, saying in what, he added, In injuries, in necessities, in distre...
