Verse Lens · Concise explanation
2 Corinthians 11:25 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 25. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse lists Roman beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, and a day and night in the deep.
Read It With
- 2 Corinthians 11:22–33
Read 2 Corinthians 11:25 with 11:22–33. This verse lists Roman beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, and a day and night in the deep. The complete unit establishes this movement: Paul matches the rivals' Jewish pedigree but ironically 'outboasts' them through labor, punishment, danger, deprivation, and daily care for communities, then chooses weakness and an undignified escape as his boast.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The unit inverts prestige: pedigree gives way to weakness, responsibility, and escape rather than conquest. Within that movement, this verse lists Roman beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, and a day and night in the deep.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I”
In plain language: The mission's costs include state violence and environmental danger.
lists Roman beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, and a day and night in the deep. The mission's costs include state violence and environmental danger.
Why it matters: The wording identifies this verse's distinct contribution to the complete unit.
How certain? strongWhat Remains True
The mission's costs include state violence and environmental danger.
How It Can Shape Life
- Plan safety and do not romanticize avoidable risk.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read 2 Corinthians 11:22–33 — The Fool's Boast Climaxes in Suffering, Care, and EscapeSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 2 Corinthians 11:22–33, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and original-language discussion.
Exact location: SBLGNT official text file 2Co.txt, 11:22–33
Open the 2 Corinthians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible - 2 Corinthians with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005-2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level Greek, syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and interpretive alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible 2 Corinthians chapter print views, 11:22–33, including attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open NET 2 Corinthians 11 notes