2 Corinthians 4:17

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; WHICH IS BUT FOR A MOMENT, [ to (G3588) parautika (G3910)] - 'which is but for the present passing moment.' Compare Matthew 11:30; also, "now for a season ... in heaviness" (1 Peter 1:6). The contrast is between this and the "ETERNAL ... glory." Also, 'the lightness of affliction' ('burden is not expressed after 'light': the Greek is 'the light of affliction') contrasts beautifully with the 'weight of the glory.' Hebrew idiom connects gravity with glory [ kabowd ...

17._Momentary lightness. _As our flesh always shrinks back from its own destruction, whatever reward may be presented to our view, and as we are influenced much more by present feeling than by the hope of heavenly blessings, Paul on that account admonishes us, that the afflictions and vexations of the pious have little or nothing of bitterness, if compared with the boundless blessings of everlasting glory. He had said, that the decay of the _outward man _ought to occasion us no grief, inasmuch as the renovation of the _inward man _springs out of it. As, however, the _decay _is visible, and the _renovation _is invisible, Paul, with the view of shaking us off from a carnal attachment to the present life, draws a comparison between present miseries and future felicity. Now this comparison is of itself abundantly sufficient for imbuing the minds of the pious with patience and moderation, tha...

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 17. _FOR OUR LIGHT AFFLICTION_, c.] Mr. Blackwall, in his sacred classics, has well illustrated this passage. I shall here produce his paraphrase as quoted by _Dr. Dodd_: "This is one of the most emphatic passages in all St. Paul's writings, in which he speaks as much like an _orator_ as he does as an apostle. The _lightness_ of the trial is expressed by το ελαφρον της θλιψεως, _the_ _lightness of our affliction_ as if he had said, it is even levity itself in such a comparison. On the other hand, the καθ' ὑπερβολην εις ὑπερβολην, which we render _far more exceeding_, is infinitely emphatical, and cannot be fully expressed by any translation. It signifies that all hyperboles fall short of describing that weight-eternal glory, so solid and lasting, that you may pass from hyperbole to hyperbole, and yet, when you have gained the last, are infinitely below it. It is every where visi...

FOR OUR LIGHT AFFLICTION - This verse, with the following, is designed to show further the sources of consolation and support which Paul and his fellow-laborers had in their many trials. Bloomfield remarks on this passage, that “in energy and beauty of expression, it is little inferior to any in Demosthenes himself, to whom, indeed, and to Thucydides in his orations, the style of the apostle, when it rises to the oratorical, bears no slight resemblance.” The passage abounds with intensive and emphatic expressions, and manifests that the mind of the writer was laboring to convey ideas which language, even after all the energy of expression which he could command, would very imperfectly communicate. The trials which Paul endured, to many persons would have seemed to be anything else but light. They consisted of want, and danger, and contempt, and stoning, and toil, and weariness, and the s...

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 OUR LIGHT AFFLICTION,.... The difference between the present and future state of the saints is here expressed, the disparity between them shown, and the influence the one has upon the other. The present state is a state of "affliction". Affliction is the common lot of the children of men, but more especially of the children of God, and is here designed by "our" affliction; for these, besides their soul trouble, meet with such in the world, and from the men of it, others do not. Afflictions are appointed for them by their heavenly Father; provision is made for them, and support under them, in the covenant of grace; they are Christ's legacy to them, and by which they are conformed to him; they are always for their good, spiritual and eternal; and lie in their way to heaven, through which they must pass into the kingdom: now these their outward afflictions which are here meant, lie chie...

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 word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God._ Paul's description of his own ministry and that of Timothy also should be true of every servant of Jesus Christ. There must be no dishonesty, or craftiness, or deceit about the minister of the Word, and it is by the manifestation of the truth that he must commend himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God. He may not win every man's approval, yet even those who differ from him must perceive his loyalty to his Lord. 2 Corinthians 4:3.

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