Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary
2 Corinthians 4:8-11
8–11. Five illustrations of the contrast between the treasure and the earthen vessel.
8–11. Five illustrations of the contrast between the treasure and the earthen vessel.
Verse 2 Corinthians 4:8. We are _TROUBLED ON EVERY SIDE_] We have already seen, in the notes on the ninth chapter of the preceding epistle, that St. Paul has made several allusions to those _public g...
WE ARE TROUBLED - We the apostles. Paul here refers to some of the trials to which he and his fellow laborers were subjected in making known the gospel. The “design” for which he does it seems to be t...
5. THE CHARACTER OF THE TRUE MINISTRY. CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The Gospel of the Glory of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:1)_ 2. The Treasure in Earthen Vessels; Weakness and Power. (2 Corinthians 4:7) 3. Resurrec...
It is true that the splendid character of this ministry is for the present obscured by the earthly and physical conditions under which it is discharged. Paul is conscious that this disability is speci...
THE BLINDED EYE (2 Corinthians 4:1-6)...
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the power which surpasses all things may be seen to be of God and not of us. We are sore pressed at every point, but not hemmed in. We are at our...
TROUBLED. afflicted, Greek. _thlibo_. See 2 Corinthians 1:6. ON EVERY SIDE. in (Greek. _en)_ every thing. DISTRESSED. Greek. _stenochoreomai,_ Only here and 2 Corinthians 6:12, where it is translated...
_We are troubled on every side_ Perhaps - _in every way_." For the word rendered troubled," cf. ch. 2 Corinthians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 6:4. _yet not distressed_ This word, says Bengel, denotes _angusti...
_OVERCOMING MANY TROUBLES 2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-15:_ Bad things come to good people. Paul mentions four bad things that had come his way and four ways that those things could be worse. He said, "We are tr...
ΘΛΙΒΌΜΕΝΟΙ _praes. pass. part. от_ ΘΛΊΒΩ (G2346) подвергать давлению, огорчать; то, что давит на дух или обременяет его (Trench, Synonyms, 202; TDNT). Это _part._ и последующие надо воспринимать вмест...
WE ARE TROUBLED ON EVERY SIDE,— This and the following verses contain a beautiful and pathetic detail of the sufferings of the Apostles; and the contrast which runs through them gives an air of sublim...
BUTLER'S COMMENTARY SECTION 2 Mortality (2 Corinthians 4:7-15) 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. 8We are afflicted in...
APPLEBURY'S COMMENTS _Paul's View Of His Ministry Scripture_ 2 Corinthians 4:7-18. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from...
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [ Thlibomenoi (G2346) all' (G235) ou (G3756) stenochooroumenoi (G4729)] 'BEIN...
6 The covenant of the letter is the law of Moses which was engraven in stone, to symbolize its unyielding sternness. There is no reference to the letter of Scripture. It is the law that kills, just as...
_We are_ TROUBLED, etc.] Images are heaped one upon another in picturesque accumulation to express the fact that, in spite of many great trials (cp. 2 Corinthians 11:26; 2 Corinthians 12:10), the Apos...
1-6. The messengers of this gospel are not afraid to proclaim it, for they preach Christ, who has revealed the glory of God. 1, 2. PARAPHRASE. 'Having this glorious gospel to preach, we proclaim it bo...
GOD SHOWS HIS POWER WHEN WE ARE WEAK 2 CORINTHIANS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 4 V1 God in his *mercy has given us this work to do. As a result, we do not lose hope. V2 We do not do things in secret a...
WE ARE TROUBLED ON EVERY SIDE. — The Greek presents all the clauses in a participial form, in apposition with the “we” with which 2 Corinthians 4:7 opens. The careful antithesis in each case requires...
CHAPTER 12 THE VICTORY OF FAITH. 2 Corinthians 4:7 (R.V) IN the opening verses of this chapter Paul has magnified his office, and his equipment for it. He has risen to a great height, poetic and spi...
ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι κ. τ. λ.: with a sudden change of metaphor, the Apostle now thinks of himself as a soldier engaged with an apparently stronger foe, and at every moment on the point of defeat; and...
HIS BODILY WEAKNESS DOES NOT ANNUL THE EFFECTS OF HIS MINISTRY....
THE INWARD LIFE TRIUMPHANT OVER AFFLICTION 2 Corinthians 4:7 Few men have been more conscious of their weakness than was the Apostle. The earthen vessel had become very cracked and scratched, but the...
Continuing about the ministry, the apostle said, "We faint not," "we have renounced the hidden things of shame," "we preach... Christ Jesus as Lord." Hearing, some perish because "the god of this worl...
GOD'S PROCLAIMERS WILL OVERCOME The treasure would be the gospel. That treasure is carried to the world in earthly vessels, that is, our bodies. Because the body is weak, the greatness of the message...
_We are straitened. [2] This, by the Greek, seems the sense of the Latin word, which is taken to signify, one perplexed, and in a doubt. See John xiii. 22.; Acts xxv. 20.; Galatians iv. 20.) (Witham)_...
(8) We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; (9) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; (10) Always bearing about in the body the d...
8._While we are pressed on every side. _This is added by way of explanation, for he shows, that his abject condition is so far from detracting from the glory of God, that it is the occasion of advanci...
Having received this ministry of righteousness and of the Spirit, the foundation of which was Christ glorified beheld with open face, he not only used great boldness of speech, but his zeal was not ab...
WE ARE TROUBLED ON EVERY SIDE,.... Or afflicted; εν παντι, either "in every place", wherever we are, into whatsoever country, city, or town we enter, we are sure to meet with trouble, of one sort or a...
_We are_ troubled on every side, yet not distressed; _we are_ perplexed, but not in despair; Ver. 8. _We are troubled on every side_] This is the world's wages to God's ministers. _Veritas odium pari...
_We are troubled_ The four articles in this verse respect inward, the four in the next outward afflictions. In each clause the former part shows the earthen vessels; the latter, the excellence of the...
NOT DISTRESSED; so as to be overcome or disabled for their duties. PERPLEXED; as to what course to take. NOT IN DESPAIR; not left utterly at a loss what to do, as those forsaken of God....
WE ARE TROUBLED ON EVERY SIDE, YET NOT DISTRESSED; WE ARE PERPLEXED, BUT NOT IN DESPAIR;...
Paul's bodily weakness:...
Chapter s 4 and 5 now show some of the precious, practical results of this ministry, seen in those entrusted with it; for it is such a ministry itself that works powerfully in them to enable them to c...
IN DESPAIR: Or, altogether without help or means...
8-12 The apostles were great sufferers, yet they met with wonderful support. Believers may be forsaken of their friends, as well as persecuted by enemies; but their God will never leave them nor fors...
WE ARE TROUBLED ON EVERY SIDE; we are many ways, indeed every way, afflicted, afflicted with all sorts of afflictions; YET NOT DISTRESSED; but yet we are not like persons cooped up into a strait place...
we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;...
Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book IV Only let us preserve free-will and love: "troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, bu...
2 Corinthians 4:8 pressed G2346 (G5746) on G1722 side G3956 yet G235 not G3756 crushed G4729 (G5746) perplex
‘We are pressed on every side, yet not pressed in; perplexed, yet not to despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that...
2 Corinthians 4:8-9. WE ARE PRESSED ON EVERY SIDE, etc. and who would expect from such instruments those marvellous transformations of character which our ministry effects, were it not that “it is God...
PRESSED (θλιβομενο). From θλιβω, to press as grapes, to contract, to squeeze. Series of present passive participles here through verse 2 Corinthians 4:9 that vividly picture Paul's ministerial care...
2 Corinthians 4:8 The Broken Life. The mystery of evil has many aspects. There is one which is contained in that sad word, waste. How much that was born with each one of us must pass unused and undev...
2 Corinthians 4:1. _Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;_ Stern was the labour of the apostles, but they felt that their work was so all-important, so divi...
2 Corinthians 4:1. _Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the wor...
2 Corinthians 4:1. _Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;--_ We are sometimes ready to faint, but we cast our fainting spirits into the arms of God, and our...
2 Corinthians 4:1. _Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;_ It is a very high privilege to be called to the work of the Christian ministry, and when the mini...
CONTENTS: Truth taught, commended by the life. The preaching of the Lordship of Christ. The suffering of true ministers with Christ. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Paul. CONCLUSION: A steadfast adherence t...
2 Corinthians 4:1. _Seeing we have this ministry,_ of grace and reconciliation to a guilty world; the ministry of righteousness, not of condemnation; the ministry of life, and not of death; we have li...
WE ARE OFTEN TROUBLED. Paul is an _optimistic-pessimist._ For each word which shows weakness, there is one which shows strength. TROUBLE? Yes, but not crushed and put out of the battle! IN DOUBT? Yes,...
_We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed._ TRIALS IN THE CAUSE OF CHRIST I. The trials encountered in the cause of Christ are sometimes very great. “We are troubled on every side.” The man...
2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1 Paul explains why he does not become discouraged in his ministry, despite his many afflictions (2 Corinthians 4:1,...
CHAPTER 4 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. From what was said in the last chapter of the glory and honour belonging to the office of a preacher of the Gospel, S. Paul proceeds to assert that he discharges...
_CRITICAL NOTES_ 2 Corinthians 4:8.—“Pressed for room, and still having room” (Stanley). “Perplexed, but not utterly perplexed” (Beet). Apparent, not real, contradiction to 2 Corinthians 1:8 (same wo...
EXPOSITION The glory of the gospel ministry (2 Corinthians 4:1), which sustains the hearts of Christ's ministers among all weaknesses and trials (2 Corinthians 4:7), especially by the faith in things...
Therefore seeing we have this ministry (2 Corinthians 4:1), What ministry? Pointing people to Jesus Christ. as we have received mercy, we faint not; But [we] have renounced the hidden things of disho...
1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Peter 1:6; 1 Peter 1:7; 1 Peter 4:12;...
Troubled [θ λ ι β ο μ ε ν ο ι]. See on tribulation, Matthew 13:21. The verb also has the meaning of to straiten, contract, as Matthew 7:14, where teqlimmenh, A. V. narrow, is properly rendered by Rev....
We are troubled, &c. — The four articles in this verse respect inward, the four in the next outward, afflictions. In each clause the former part shows the "earthen vessels;" the latter, "the excellenc...
The false apostles and some weak Christians having taken offence at the manifold and great sufferings which St. Paul, with his fellow-apostles, had met with in the course of their ministry: in these v...