2 Corinthians 1:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

NIV: Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

NASB: Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead,

CSB: Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

NLT: In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.

KJV: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

NKJV: Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

Since Paul's last letter to the Corinthians, he and his traveling companions had experienced something "in Asia," perhaps in Ephesus. The end of 1 Corinthians mentions that the door to effective work had opened to him there, but also that there were many adversaries to the gospel (1 Corinthians 16:8–9). Did they attack Paul and his team? We don't know.

Whatever happened, they were weighed down beyond their strength and felt that they would die. Now Paul adds that they thought they had received the death sentence. The situation was so devastating it literally brought Paul to his knees.

The Greek of this statement is translated very literally by the NASB, which says, "we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead." The situation was so dire, Paul and his companions lost all hope in their own ability to hold on to life. This meant they were forced to rely on the God who raises the dead.

Paul finds this to be another value of the experience. It was so severe that it brought him and his companions to the end of themselves. They were helpless and forced to put all their hope, even to keep breathing, in God. Suffering can do the same for any believer, removing whatever we falsely hope in and landing all our hope in the powerful God we trust.

Once again, Paul connects his suffering to that of Jesus. Jesus received the death sentence from the Romans. He died and was raised back to life.

Second Corinthians 1:3–11 contains profound praise to God for His comfort of all in affliction. Paul connects Christian suffering to the sufferings of Christ. This shows the Corinthians how Paul's suffering and the comfort he has received from God during it have been for their benefit. Paul has experienced grave suffering recently, bringing him and his co-workers to the edge of death. The God who raises the dead has delivered them. Paul invites the Corinthians to participate in the celebration of God's power by continuing to pray for Paul and his companions and to give thanks for God's deliverance.

Paul begins another letter to the Corinthians following a series of tumultuous events with them. He begins by praising God for His comfort to those who are in affliction, connecting Christian suffering to the sufferings of Christ. Paul insists that his suffering and the comfort he has received from God have been for the Corinthians' benefit. He defends both his integrity and sincerity in dealing with them and explains that he delayed his planned trip to visit them again for their sake.

Second Corinthians 1 follows about a year after the end of 1 Corinthians, and much has happened between the two letters. Paul has had a painful visit with the Corinthians before traveling to Macedonia, where he wrote a painful letter. The text of which has not been kept. He writes this new letter from Macedonia, as well, after learning about a positive change of heart on their behalf. Paul begins by praising God for His comfort for those who are afflicted and defending himself against several complaints from some in the church.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.