2 Corinthians 6:5

( b) These outward hardships are next more definitely exemplified from the opposition and persecution which St. Paul encountered from opponents during his missionary experiences. ἐν πληγαῖς, ἐν φυλακαῖς, ἐν ἀκαταστασίαις : in stripes (see reff. and cf. Acts 22:24), in imprisonments (see on 2 Corinthians 11:23), in tumults (cf. Acts 13:50; Acts 14:5; Acts 14:19; Acts 16:22; Acts 17:5; Acts 18:12; Acts 19:29; Acts 21:30). ἀκαταστασία might mean inward disorder, rather than external tumult (see reff., LXX, and cf. 1 Corinthians 4:11), but the latter meaning best suits the context here. (c) Next the Apostle enumerates the bodily hardships, voluntarily undertaken, which his work made it necessary to endure. ἐν κόποις, ἐν ἀγρυπνίαις, ἐν νηστείαις : in labours, sc., probably his labours in preaching the Gospel (see reff., but cf. 1Th 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:8, where κόπος is used of the manual labour he underwent in working for a livelihood; see also 1 Corinthians 4:11 ἀστατοῦμεν καὶ κοπιῶμεν), in watchings, sc., in nights rendered wakeful by anxiety or press of work (Acts 20:31) or urgency of prayer (Acts 16:25 and cf. Ephesians 6:18 ἀγρυπνοῦντες), in fastings. Some expositors explain these νηστεῖαι as the voluntary fastings of religion (so Hooker, Eccl. Pol., v., lxxii., 8; and cf. Acts 13:2-3). And it is true that νηστεία (see reff.) and νηστεύω are always (outside this Epistle) used of fasting as a devotional observance. But in the parallel passage 2 Corinthians 11:27 νηστεῖαι is clearly used of involuntary abstinences from food; and this meaning seems better to suit the context here also (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:11; Philippians 4:12) (§ 23). The triplet (c), then, means “in toil, in sleeplessness, in hunger”.