Paul was a man who knew what it means to be a partaker of Christ’s sufferings. You have no need that I repeat the history of his trials. His life was one of constant activity, notwithstanding he was subject to many infirmities. He was continually followed by the hatred and malice of the Jews. They were exceedingly bitter against him and did all in their power to hinder him in his work. Yet we hear his voice sounding down along the line of our time: “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18; Romans 8:18. None too highly does Paul estimate the privileges and advantages of the Christian life. I speak with no hesitancy about this matter, for I know for myself that what he says is true. {8T 125.2}

Paulus' erfaring København, den 17.juli, 1886.
Paulus var et menneske som vidste hvad det vil sige at tage del i Kristi lidelser. Du har ikke brug for at jeg gentager beretningen om hans prøvelser. Hans liv var hele tiden med arbejde, uanset om han have mange sygdomme. Han blev hele tiden forfulgt af jødernes had og ondskabsfuldhed. De var usædvanlig bitre imod ham og gjorde alt i deres magt for at forhindre ham i hans arbejde. Alligevel hører vi hans røst lyde op ad vor tidslinje: »Thi vor trængsel, der er stakket og let, virker uden mål og måde en evig vægt af herlighed for os, som ikke har blikket rettet mod de synlige ting, men mod de usynlige; thi de synlige varer kun til en tid, de usynlige varer evigt.« »Thi jeg holder for, at det, vi lider her i tiden, ikke er værd at regne i sammenligning med den herlighed, som skal åbenbares på os.« Rom.8,18. 2.Kor.4,17.18. Paulus værdsætter ikke kristenlivets privilegier og fordele for højt. Om denne sag taler jeg uden tøven, for jeg véd, af mig selv at det han siger, er sandt.