2 Corinthians 4:8-9

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:9

Not forsaken. St. Paul, like the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, knew by blessed experience the truth of the promise, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" ( Hebrews 13:5 , Hebrews 13:6 ). Cast down. Flung to the ground, as in some lost battle; yet not doomed, not "perishing." "Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand" ( Psalms 37:24 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:8

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 gospel in the midst of afflictions; and, To conciliate their favor, or to remind them that they had endured these things on their account, 2 Corinthians 4:12-15. Perhaps one leading design was to recover the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:9

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... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 4:8-12

2 Corinthians 4:8-12. We are troubled The four articles in this verse respect inward, the four in the next outward afflictions. In each clause the former part shows the earthen vessels; the latter, the excellence of the power. Yet not distressed Στενοχωρουμενοι , pressed into a strait place, so as to find no way of escape; perplexed The word απορουμενοι , so rendered, signifies persons involved in evils from which they know not how to extricate themselves: but not Εξαπορουμενοι ,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

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 4:8

troubled = afflicted, Greek. thlibo . See 2 Corinthians 1:6 . on every side = in (Greek. en) every thing. distressed . Greek. stenochoreomai, Only here and 2 Corinthians 6:12 , where it is translated "straitened". The Syriac rends "suffocated", referring probably to a wrestler who is compressed by his antagonist. perplexed . Greek apareomai. Not knowing which way to turn. See Acts 25:20 . in despair . Greek. exaporeomai . See 2 Corinthians 1:8 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Corinthians 4:9

forsaken = abandoned. Greek. enkataleipo. See Acts 2:27 . cast down . Greek. kataballo. Only here, Hebrews 6:1 .Revelation 12:10 . destroyed . Greek. apollumi, as in 2 Corinthians 4:3 . Notice the four"note" in these two verses. Fig, Mesodiplosis . App-6 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:8

We are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.As Macknight said, "This is supposed to refer to the Grecian games";[29] but the figure of a race (the third analogy) would not be true in such a comparison, because Paul's enemies were not in a Christian race with Paul. Plumptre believed that... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:8

2 Corinthians 4:8. We are troubled on every side,— This and the following verses contain a beautiful and pathetic detail of the sufferings of the Apostles; and the contrast which runs through them gives an air of sublimity to the whole, at the same time that it conveys a noble ideaof the intrepidity of the first Christians. This passage may at first seem a digression, but nothing could be more pertinent to the Apostle's grand purpose. He aimed at recovering the affections of these Corinthians,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:8

8. Greek, "BEING hard pressed, yet not inextricably straitened; reduced to inextricable straits" (nominative to "we have," :-). on every side—Greek, "in every respect" (compare :-, "always"; :-). This verse expresses inward distresses; :-, outward distresses ( :-). "Without were fightings; within were fears." The first clause in each member of the series of contrasted participles, implies the earthiness of the vessels; the second clause, the excellency of the power. perplexed, but not in... read more

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