2 Corinthians 4:17

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

The life and work of a servant (4:1-18)God’s true servants do not avoid their responsibilities or use dishonest methods. They do not change the plain meaning of God’s Word to suit themselves, but teach that Word faithfully and directly (4:1-2). Not all will believe, because Satan blinds their minds, but true preachers remember always that the message they preach is Christ’s, not theirs. Then, when the hearers allow the light of that message to shine into their hearts, they see Christ as their... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Corinthians 4:17

our light , &c. Literally the momentary lightness of our affliction. light. Greek. elaphros. Only here and Matthew 11:30 . Compare "lightness", 2 Corinthians 1:17 . affliction. Greek. thlipsis as in 2 Corinthians 1:4 . Compare the verb, 2 Corinthians 4:8 . for a moment . Greek. parautika. Only here. worketh. Greek. katergazomai. To work out. See Romans 7:8 . far more exceeding . Literally according to (Greek. kata . App-104 ,) excess unto (Greek. eis. App-104 .) excess. The Greek... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:17

For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.The surprise of this verse is that the epic sufferings of Paul should be termed "our light affliction"; This cannot mean, literally, that they were in any sense "light"; but that IN COMPARISON with the ultimate glory of Christians, they are light. James Macknight has an inspiring paragraph on this verse, as follows:It is hardly possible to express the force of this passage as... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:17

2 Corinthians 4:17. For our light affliction,— This is one of the most emphatical passages in St. Paul's writings; in which he speaks as much like an orator 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' υπερβολην εις υπερβολην, which we render, far more exceeding, is infinitely emphatical, and cannot be fully expressed by any... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:17

17. which is but for a moment—"Our PRESENT light (burden of) affliction" (so the Greek; compare :-), [ALFORD]. Compare "now for a season . . . in heaviness" ( :-). The contrast, however, between this and the "ETERNAL weight of glory" requires, I think, the translation, "Which is but for the present passing moment." So WAHL. "The lightness of affliction" (he does not express "burden" after "light"; the Greek is "the light of affliction") contrasts beautifully with the "weight of the glory."... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

The contrast between outward deterioration and inward renewal 4:16-18 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Corinthians 4:17

Paul introduced another paradox. Suffering now will result in glory later. He could consider the afflictions he had undergone as a servant of Christ as "light" only in comparison with the heavy weight of glory he would receive at Christ’s judgment seat (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27)."His choice of the expression ’the weight of glory’ may be influenced by the fact that in Hebrew ’weight’ and ’glory’ come from the same root kbd. It is because the coming ’glory’ is so ’weighty’ that the present... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - 2 Corinthians 4:17

4:17 light (c-5) Lit. 'the momentary lightness of our.' read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

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 boldly. (2) We have nothing to do with methods and practices which cannot bear the light (like those of your false teachers), for we neither seek to undo another’s work by unscrupulous hints and disgraceful insinuations, nor try to gain the favour of the Jewish Christians by false teaching about the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Corinthians 4:17

(17) For our light affliction . . .—More accurately, the present lightness of our affliction. This is at once more literally in accord with the Greek, and better sustains the balanced antithesis of the clauses.A far more exceeding . . .—The Greek phrase is adverbial rather than adjectival: worketh for us exceedingly, exceedingly. After the Hebrew idiom of expressing intensity by the repetition of the same word, (used of this very word “exceedingly” in Genesis 7:19; Genesis 17:2), he seeks to... read more

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