This chapter 2 Corinthians 4 is intimately connected with the preceding, and is indeed merely a statement of the consequences or results of the doctrine advanced there. In that chapter, Paul had stated the clearness and plainness of the gospel as contrasted with the institutions of Moses, and partic... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE - Διὰ τοῦτο Dia touto. On account of this. That is, because the light of the gospel is so clear; because it reveals so glorious truths, and all obscurity is taken away, and we are permitted to behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, 2 Corinthians 3:18. Since the glories of the gospe... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HAVE RENOUNCED - (ἀπειπάμεθα apeipametha from ἀπὸ apo and εἶπον eipon). The word means properly to speak out or off; to refuse or deny; to interdict or forbid. Here it means, to renounce, or disown; to spurn, or scorn with aversion. It occurs no where else in the New Testament; and the sen... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF OUR GOSPEL BE HID - Paul here calls it his gospel, because it was that which he preached, or the message which he bore; see note, Romans 16:25. The sense here is, “if the gospel which I preach is not understood; if its meaning is obscure or hidden; if its glory is not seen.” It is “implied” h... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOM - In respect to whom; among whom; or in whose hearts. The design of this verse is to account for the fact that the glory of the gospel was not seen by them. It is to be traced entirely to the agency of him whom Paul here calls “the god of this world.” THE GOD OF THIS WORLD - There can be no... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE PREACH NOT OURSELVES - The connection here is not very apparent, and the design of this verse has been variously understood. The connection seems to me to be this. Paul gives here a reason for what he had said in the previous parts of the Epistle respecting his conduct in the ministry. He had... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD, WHO COMMANDED ... - The design of this verse seems to be, to give a reason why Paul and his fellow-apostles did not preach themselves, but Jesus Christ the Lord, 2 Corinthians 4:5. That reason was, that their minds had been so illuminated by that God who had commanded the light to shine out... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE HAVE THIS TREASURE - The treasure of the gospel; the rich and invaluable truths which they were called to preach to others. The word “treasure” is applied to those truths on account of their inestimable worth. Paul in the previous verses had spoken of the gospel, the knowledge of Jesus Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
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 to show them: * What they endured in preaching the truth; * To show the sustaining power of that... [ Continue Reading ]
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 interpo... [ Continue Reading ]
ALWAYS BEARING ABOUT IN THE BODY - The expression used here is designed to show the great perils to which Paul was exposed. And the idea is, that he had on his body the marks, the stripes and marks of punishment and persecution, which showed that he was exposed to the same violent death which the Lo... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE WHICH LIVE - Those of us, the apostles and ministers of the Redeemer who still survive. James the brother of John had been put to death Acts 12:2; and it is probable also that some other of the apostles had been also. This verse is merely explanatory of the previous verse. ARE ALWAY DELIVERE... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEN DEATH WORKETH IN US - We are exposed to death. The preaching of the gospel exposes us to trials which may be regarded as death working in us. Death has an energy over us (ἐνεργεῖται energeitai, is at work, is active, or operates); it is constantly employed in inflicting pains on us, and su... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVING THE SAME SPIRIT OF FAITH - The same spirit that is expressed in the quotation which he is about to make; the same faith which the psalmist had. We have the very spirit of faith which is expressed by David. The sense is, we have the same spirit of faith which he had who said, “I believed,”... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWING - Being fully confident; having the most entire assurance. It was the assured hope of the resurrection which sustained them in all their trials. This expression denotes the full and unwavering belief, in the minds of the apostles, that the doctrines which they preached were true. They knew t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ALL THINGS ARE FOR YOUR SAKES - All these things; these glorious hopes, and truths, and prospects; these self-denials of the apostles, and these provisions of the plan of mercy. FOR YOUR SAKES - On your account. They are designed to promote your salvation. They are not primarily for the welfare... [ Continue Reading ]
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 f... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Dem... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE WE LOOK ... - Or, rather, we not looking at the things which are seen. The design of this is, to show in what way the afflictions which they endured became in their view light and momentary. It was by looking to the glories of the future world, and thus turning away the attention from the tria... [ Continue Reading ]