Paul’s letter reads like a lone voice crying in the wilderness of a pagan empire. Paul reveals in our text that he had pushback on other missionary fronts in addition to opposition he faces in Corinth as the truth of Christianity clashed with the sinful philosophy of the day.   Yet here we are over 2000 years later, and his voice has decisively won the battle of history. It is difficult these days to find the published works of Christ’s enemies the apostle confronted at the time, yet more copies of Paul’s writings remain in print than any other book in human history.   This is the kind of victorious triumph we would expect to follow the resurrected and reigning Messiah.   What Paul proclaimed in faith at the time has only been confirmed with every generation since, calling us yet today to wake up from our stupor to proclaim and serve our risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ.