Universal Utterings

for June 20, 2025

A Godcast

UniversalUtterings.Com

06-20-25 2 Corinthians 11 v1830 If I Must Boast

http://universalutterings.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/06-20-25-2-Corinthians-11-v1830-If-I-Must-Boast.mp3

The 2nd Letter to the Corinthians 11 Verses 18 thru 30

18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly put up with fools, since you are wise yourselves. 20 For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, or devours you, or gets the better of you, or puts on airs, or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I say that we were too weak! But what anyone dares to boast of (I am speaking in foolishness) I also dare. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I am talking like an insane person.)l I am still more, with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, far worse beatings, and numerous brushes with death. 24 Five times at the hands of the Jews I received forty lashes minus one.25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the deep; 26 on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fasting’s, through cold and exposure. 28 And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led to sin, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

In 2 Corinthians 11:18-30, the Apostle Paul continues his defense of apostolic authority, addressing the concerns of the Corinthian church regarding his credentials and ministry. He contrasts his humility with the boasts of false apostles who claim superiority. Paul becomes quite confrontational, as he highlights the absurdity of boasting in worldly terms, yet he chooses to participate in this rhetoric to make his point.

In verses 18-21, Paul expresses his frustration that the Corinthians are willing to accept the boasts of others while dismissing his own experiences and sacrifices. He employs a form of irony, suggesting that if others are going to boast about their achievements and lineage, he will do so as well. He recounts his extensive sufferings for the sake of Christ, listing hardships such as imprisonment, beatings, and threats to his life. This enumeration serves to validate his apostleship through his sacrifices rather than worldly success.

In verses 22-29, Paul elaborates on his sufferings, emphasizing that his experiences, including shipwrecks, persecutions, and daily pressures of concern for the churches, reveal the authenticity of his ministry. His emphasis on weakness challenges the cultural values that equate success with power. Paul’s declaration that he boasts in his weaknesses illustrates a profound theological principle: strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Finally, in verse 30, Paul states that if he boasts, it will be in his weakness, redirecting the concept of boasting away from personal achievements to the work of Christ in his life. This section serves as a powerful reminder of the cost of discipleship and the true nature of apostolic authority, grounded not in worldly metrics of success but in faithfulness to Christ amidst adversity. Paul’s challenge compels believers to evaluate the standards by which they measure true leadership and faith. Amen.

Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.

At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.

I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.

I am a poet obedient to Christ,

Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins

†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®

Ephesians 6:17-20

06-20-25 2 Corinthians 11 v1830

**If I Must Boast**

In Corinth’s light, where champions vie,

Some boast of strength that reaches the sky.

Yet Paul stands firm, his heart laid bare,

To share the truth with divine care.

"Let them boast!" he boldly declares,

In their fine tales and worldly snares.

But I’ll recount my scars and pain,

For in my weakness, His strength remains.

From rivers deep and prisons cold,

My tale unfolds, though often untold.

With lashes scored and perils faced,

In service true, my hope embraced.

Five times I bore the lashes’ sting,

Shipwrecked and lost, yet I still sing.

A journey fraught with toil and strife,

Yet in each trial, I found true life.

With daily burdens, the churches’ need,

My heart expands; I plant the seed.

For when I'm weak, then I'm made strong,

In Christ's embrace, where I belong.

So boast, dear friends, of trials past,

For in our woes, His love holds fast.

Let not the world define our plight;

In humble faith, we find the light.

Each scar a mark of grace bestowed,

A witness true on faith’s long road.

In weakness lies the power to stand,

For we are held in His mighty hand.

So come, dear brothers, let our hearts unite,

In boasting of His Eternal light.

For in our struggles, His glory shines,

In weakness, strength, true love entwines. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

June 20, 2025 @ 04:44 AM EST

® Universal Utterings ® is brought to you by;

**† God First Ministries, Inc. is a Roman Catholic Lay Ministry not sponsored by The Church but is accepted by the IRS as a Religious Charitable Org. and is exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations made through PayPal using [email protected], or given to GFM are tax deductible. †**