2 Corinthians 4:9

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; NOT FORSAKEN - by God and man. Jesus was forsaken by both: so much do His sufferings exceed those of His people (Matthew 27:46). Literally, left behind, as in a race, [ enkataleipomenoi (G1459)]. CAST DOWN - or 'struck down:' not only "persecuted" - i:e., chased as a deer or bird (1 Samuel 26:20) - but actually struck down as with a dart (Hebrews 11:35). The [ pantote (G3842)] "always" in this verse means, 'throughout the whole time;'...

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 forsake them. There may be fears within, as well as fightings without; yet we are not destroyed. The apostle speaks of their sufferings as a counterpart of the sufferings of Christ, that people might see the power of Christ's resurrection, and of grace in and from the living Jesus. In comparison with them, other Christians were, even at that time, in prosperous circumstances....

Verse 2 Corinthians 4:9. _PERSECUTED, BUT NOT FORSAKEN_] Διωκομενοι, αλλ' ουκ εγκαταλειπομενοι. The διωκομενοι, _pursued_, is peculiar to the δρομος, or _race_, when one being foremost others pursue, and get up close after him, endeavouring to _outstrip_ him, but cannot succeed: this is the meaning of ουκ εγκαταλειπομενοι, not _outstripped_, or _outgone_, as the word implies. So in PLUTARCH: τους απολειφθεντας ου στεφανουσι, _they do not crown them that_ _are distanced or left behind_. So says the apostle, 1 Corinthians 9:24: _All run, but only_ ONE _receiveth the_ PRIZE. _CAST DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED._] Καταβαλλομενοι αλλ' ουκ απολλυμενοι. This also belongs to _wrestlers_, where he that _throws_

PERSECUTED - Often persecuted, persecuted in all places. The Book of Acts shows how true this was. BUT NOT FORSAKEN - Not deserted; nor left by God Though persecuted by people, yet they experi enced the fulfillment of the divine promise that he would never leave nor forsake them. God always interposed to aid them; always saved them from the power of their enemies; always sustained them in the time of persecution. It is still true. His people have been often persecuted. Yet God has often interposed to save them from the hands of their enemies; and where he has not saved them from their hands, and preserved their lives, yet he has never left them, but has sustained, upheld, and comforted them even in the dreadful agonies of death. CAST DOWN - Thrown down by our enemies, perhaps in allusion to the contests of wrestlers, or of gladiators....

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

PERSECUTED, BUT NOT FORSAKEN,.... Pursued from place to place, and followed with menaces, curses, and reproaches; laid hold on, proscribed, imprisoned, and threatened with the severest tortures, and death itself; but our God never leaves us nor forsakes us; though we are followed close by evil men, and left by our friends, we are not forsaken of God: CAST DOWN we sometimes are, as an earthen vessel; 2 Corinthians 4:7, which may be cast out of a man's hands, in order to be dashed to pieces; or as a man in wrestling, see Ephesians 6:12 may be thrown to the ground by his antagonist, so we are sometimes foiled by sin, Satan, and the world: BUT NOT DESTROYED; we are still safe in the hands of Christ, and are kept by the power of God; and, indeed, to what else ca

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 minister remembers what great mercy he has himself received, what sins have been forgiven, what favors have been bestowed, he has the very best incentives in all the world to pursue his ministry with diligence and with zeal. «We faint not,» says the apostle. We do not hang our harps upon the willows. We do not pray to be allowed to retire from the battle, and give up the strife; but, feeling how great has been the mercy of God to our own souls, we are stirred up to press forward with holy zeal to win the victory. We long that others may taste of the same good things on which we have feasted....

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

THE BLINDED EYE (2 Corinthians 4:1-6)...