Note 6 at 2 Cor. 7:5: Some people who are looking for scriptures to give approval to their own discouragement and frustrations, use scriptures like this to make their point. Their reasoning is that if Paul had no rest, troubles everywhere, fightings and fears, then certainly they must also. However, Paul is not stating that these troubles were getting the best of him. On the contrary, he had just said in the previous verse that he was exceedingly joyful in all his tribulation.

The key to understanding this is the word "flesh" in verse 5. Paul specifically mentioned that it was in his flesh (see note 3 at Rom. 7:18, p. 790) that these troubles were located. Paul was not walking in the flesh, but in the spirit (Rom. 8:1, 4; Gal. 5:16; see note 3 at 1 Cor. 2:3, p. 866). His outward man was perishing, but his inward man was being renewed day by day (see note 17 at 2 Cor. 4:16, p. 999).

Therefore, it is accurate to say that Paul had problems and we will too. But it is inaccurate to say that Paul was burdened and oppressed by his problems therefore we'll be burdened and oppressed by ours. No, Paul was more than victorious (Rom. 8:37). Problems came, but Paul walked in victory (1 Cor. 15:57). We can too.

Note 7 at 2 Cor. 7:5: When Paul came into Macedonia he was "troubled." The Greek word used here is "thlibo," and is translated 10 times in the New Testament as follows: "trouble" 4 times (2 Cor. 4:8; 7:5; 2 Th. 1:6, 7); "afflict" 3 times (2 Cor. 1:6; 1 Tim. 5:10; Heb. 11:37); "narrow" 1 time (Mt. 7:14); "throng" 1 time (Mk. 3:9); and "suffer tribulation" 1 time (1 Th. 3:4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon says "thlibo" is a Greek verb that means to "press hard upon, to press [as grapes], and metaph. means to trouble, afflict and distress."

Some of Paul's trouble resulted from not finding Titus at Troas, or, for some time, in Macedonia. He suffered outward conflicts, fighting and persecution from unbelievers, and inward fears over the problems in Corinth. He was comforted, however, by God and the coming of Titus with his report of the good news of the Corinthians' love and response toward him.