2 Corinthians 4:8-9

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Continuing about the ministry, the apostle said, "We faint not," "we have renounced the hidden things of shame," "we preach . . . Christ Jesus as Lord." Hearing, some perish because "the god of this world hath blinded their minds," and that because of "unbelief." The god of this world is able only to blind the minds of the unbelieving. This ministry, so full of triumph for such remarkable reasons, is yet exercised through great tribulation. The treasure is in earthen vessels, and these are... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

‘We are pressed on every side, yet not pressed in; perplexed, yet not to 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 earthen vessels that bear the message of the glory of Christ they are also subject to the sufferings of Christ (compare 2 Corinthians 1:5). As He suffered in this world, so must they. They bear about in their body the dying of Jesus. But... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

2 Corinthians 4:7-Job : . 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... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:8

We are troubled on every side; we are many ways, indeed every way, afflicted, afflicted with all sorts of afflictions; yet not distressed; but yet we are not like persons cooped up into a strait place, so as they are not able to turn them, nor know which way to move (so the word signifies). We are perplexed; the word signifies doubting, uncertain what shall become of us, or how God will dispose of us; full of anxious, troublesome thoughts about what shall be our lot in the world; but not in... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:9

Persecuted; violently pursued and prosecuted by such as are the adversaries of the gospel, and enemies to our Lord Jesus, because of our profession of him, and preaching his gospel; but yet not forsaken of God, nor wholly of men; God, by the inward influences of his Holy Spirit, supporting, upholding, and comforting us; and also, by his providence, raising us up some friends that stick by us. Cast down, either in our own thoughts, (as it is the nature of worldly troubles and afflictions to sink... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

CRITICAL NOTES2 Corinthians 4:8.—“Pressed for room, and still having room” (Stanley). “Perplexed, but not utterly perplexed” (Beet). Apparent, not real, contradiction to 2 Corinthians 1:8 (same word).2 Corinthians 4:9.—“Pursued in our flight, but not left behind as a prey to our pursuers; struck down (as with a dart, or thrown down as in wrestling), yet not perishing” (Stanley).2 Corinthians 4:10. Dying.—Note margin. See under 2 Corinthians 1:5 for the thought.2 Corinthians 4:11. Live.—In more... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 The Broken Life. The mystery of evil has many aspects. There is one which is contained in that sad word, waste. How much that was born with each one of us must pass unused and undeveloped into the grave! Who is there that has begun to think, and has passed the entrance on actual life, what man of thirty, what woman of five-and-twenty, has not already learned to relinquish what had once seemed possible. I. The vision of life in early youth, for those who think and feel, has a... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Chapter 4Therefore seeing we have this ministry ( 2 Corinthians 4:1 ),What ministry? Pointing people to Jesus Christ. as we have received mercy, we faint not; But [we] 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 ( 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 ).Paul said, "Look, I am not seeking to be crafty. I'm not seeking to give some kind of a... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

2 Corinthians 4:1 . Seeing we have this ministry, of grace and reconciliation to a guilty world; the ministry of righteousness, not of condemnation; the ministry of life, and not of death; we have lived in the spirit of our mission, and in full conformity to our calling. If judges and magistrates keep up the dignity of their courts, it will never do for the ambassadors of heaven to lower the style of their address, especially when addressing the enemies of the truth. 2 Corinthians 4:2 . ... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - 2 Corinthians 4:8-12

2 Corinthians 4:8-12We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed.Trials in the cause of ChristI. The trials encountered in the cause of Christ are sometimes very great. “We are troubled on every side.” The man who is earnestly engaged in any cause in this world will have to encounter trials. The old prophets had theirs; some were insulted, some incarcerated, some martyred. So with John the Baptist, and so with the apostles, so with the confessors, reformers, and revivalists.II. However... read more

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