2 Corinthians 4:16

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. WE FAINT NOT - notwithstanding sufferings. Resuming . OUTWARD MAN - the flesh and all that ministers to the earthly life. PERISH - `is wasting away' by afflictions. INWARD MAN - our spiritual and true "life " which even in our mortal bodies () 'manifests the life INWARD MAN - our spiritual and true "life," which, even in our mortal bodies (), 'manifests the life of Jesus.' IS RENEWED - `is being renewed;' namely, with fresh "grace" ...

16._For which cause we faint not _(491) He now, as having carried his point, rises to a higher confidence than before. “There is no cause,” says he, _“ _why we should lose heart, or sink down under the burden of the cross, the issue of which is not merely so desirable to myself, but is also salutary to others.” Thus he exhorts the Corinthians to fortitude by his own example, should they happen at any time to be similarly afflicted. Farther, he beats down that insolence, in which they in no ordinary degree erred, inasmuch as under the influence of ambition, they held a man in higher estimation, the farther he was from the cross of Christ. _Though our outward man. _The _outward man, _some improperly and ignorantly confound with the _old man, _for widely different from this is the _old man, _of which we have spoken in Romans 4:6

13-18 The grace of faith is an effectual remedy against fainting in times of trouble. They knew that Christ was raised, and that his resurrection was an earnest and assurance of theirs. The hope of this resurrection will encourage in a suffering day, and set us above the fear of death. Also, their sufferings were for the advantage of the church, and to God's glory. The sufferings of Christ's ministers, as well as their preaching and conversation, are for the good of the church and the glory of God. The prospect of eternal life and happiness was their support and comfort. What sense was ready to pronounce heavy and long, grievous and tedious, faith perceived to be light and short, and but for a moment. The weight of all temporal afflictions was lightness itself, while the glory to come was a substance, weighty, and lasting beyond description. If the apostle could call his heavy and long-...

Verse 16. _FOR WHICH CAUSE WE FAINT NOT_] ουκ εκκα κουμεν. See note on 2 Corinthians 4:1. Here we have the same various reading; εγκακουμεν, _we do no wickedness_; and it is supported by BDEFG, and some others: but it is remarkable that Mr. Wakefield follows the common reading _here_, though the various-reading is at least as well supported in this verse as in verse first. The common reading, _faint not_, appears to agree best with the apostle's meaning. _BUT THOUGH OUR OUTWARD MAN_] That is, our _body_-that part of us that can be _seen, heard_, and _felt, perish_-be slowly consumed by continual trials and afflictions, and be martyred at last; _YET THE INWARD MAN_] Our _soul_-that which cannot be felt or seen by others, is _renewed_-is _revived_, and receives a daily inc

FOR WHICH CAUSE - With such an object in view, and sustained by such elevated purposes and desires. The sense is, that the purpose of trying to save as many as possible would make toil easy, privations welcome, and would be so accompanied by the grace of God, as to gird the soul with strength, and fill it with abundant consolations. WE FAINT NOT - For an explanation of the word used here, see the note on 2 Corinthians 4:1. We are not exhausted, desponding, or disheartened. We are sustained, encouraged, emboldened by having such an object in view. BUT THOUGH OUR OUTWARD MAN PERISH - By outward man, Paul evidently means the body. By using the phrases, “the outward man,” and the “inward man,” he shows that he believed that man was made up of two parts, body and soul. He

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 unseen (2 Corinthians 4:16). 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1 THEREFORE. Because of the freedom and open vision of the gospel. AS WE HAVE RECEIVED MERCY. Gratitude for a mercy so undeserved (1 Timothy 1:13) makes us fearless and vigorous in a minis

FOR WHICH CAUSE WE FAINT NOT,.... Since our afflictions are overruled for the good of others, and the glory of God, we are not discouraged by them; our spirits do not sink under the weight of them; we do not give out from the work of the ministry because of them, but go on cheerfully therein: and the more so, since THOUGH OUR OUTWARD MAN PERISH; our outward circumstances of life are very mean and despicable; we are oftentimes in a very distressed condition through hunger, thirst, nakedness, and want of the common necessaries of life; our bodies are almost worn out with fatigue, labour, and sorrow; our earthly tabernacles are tottering, and just ready to fall in pieces: YET THE INWARD MAN IS RENEWED DAY BY DAY; that is, continually; it answers to ויום יום, an Hebraism; see Esther 2:11 the internal hidden man of the heart, the new man is in a prosperous con

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 strength is again reserved at times, the very importance of an errand first weighs down the spirit of the messenger, yet afterwards it seems to impel him to more than ordinary exertion. So is it here, having been divinely entrusted with this ministry, and being ready to faint under the tremendous responsibility that it involves, we yet are roused to action by the very pressure which seems to deprive us of the power to act, and therefore «we faint not;»-- 2 Corinthians 4:2. But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the w

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. Resurrection and Coming Glory. (2 Corinthians 4:13 .) This ministry which the apostle mentions is the ministry of the Gospel. And those who know it by having received mercy are to be the witnesses. Every Christian who has obtained mercy, who is saved by grace, is called to witness to this blessed fact in some way. “We faint not”--we are not discouraged, but encouraged to go on in its proclamation, knowing that it is a sweet savor unto God and the power of God unto salv

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 specially marked in his case. His opponents had probably good reason for saying his bodily presence is weak (2 Corinthians 10:10; 1 Corinthians 15:8 *). 2 Corinthians 10 f. refers frequently to infirmities, and specially to the thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7 *) which was a sore trial to him. But Paul sees in it the working of God's will, that there might be no doubt as to the true source of the power he exercised; it came not from Paul but from God. And this Divine power works not only through h