2 Corinthians 11:28Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies.
The setting
Corinth, Greece, ~56 AD. Paul writes from Macedonia, defending his ministry against false apostles who question his authority. He's been beaten, shipwrecked, and constantly traveling between struggling churches.
The emotion here: exhausted but fiercely protective
The original word
merimna (μέριμνα) — anxious care that divides the mind, from 'meros' (part) + 'nous' (mind)
Why it matters
Paul likely oversaw 30+ church plants across 3 continents by this time
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Corinthians 11:28
This anxiety isn't worry—it's the sleepless concern of someone responsible for people's souls
Common misconceptionPeople think this shows Paul was anxious or worried. Actually, he's boasting about his deep care—contrasting his sleepless concern for churches with the false apostles who only care about money.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Corinthians 11:28
Bible Genome reading
2 Corinthians 11:28 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Corinthians 11:28 comes from the book of 2 Corinthians, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Paul. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include pastoral care, burden. Notable phrases: anxiety for all the assemblies.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does 2 Corinthians 11:28 mean to you, today?
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