2 Corinthians 4:17-18

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:17

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment; literally, for the immediate lightness of our affliction . Worketh for us. Is bringing about for us, with all the immeasurable force of a natural and progressive law. A far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; literally, in excess unto excess . For the phrase, "to excess—characteristic, like other emotional expressions, of this group of Epistles—see 2 Corinthians 1:8 ; Galatians 1:13 . The word "eternal" is in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:18

While we look not at the things which are seen. The Greek suggests more of a reason, "Since we are not gazing at things visible" (see 2 Corinthians 5:7 ). Things which are not seen. The negative is the subjective negative. It expresses not only the fact that now these things are not seen, but that it is their nature to be unseen by the bodily eyes. Temporal . That is, temporary, transitory, phantasmal, a passing world; for which reason we do not fix our gaze or our aim upon it. But... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:17

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 Demosthenes himself, to whom, indeed, and to Thucydides in his orations, the style of the apostle, when it rises to the oratorical, bears no slight resemblance.” The passage abounds with intensive and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:18

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 trials and sorrows of this life. If we look directly at our trials; if the mind is fixed wholly on them, and we think of nothing else, they often appear heavy and long. Even comparatively light and brief... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

2 Corinthians 4:16-17. For which cause Because of which abounding grace that supports us; we faint not Under any of our present pressures; but though our outward man The body; perish Be worn out and brought to dust prematurely, by our continual labours and sufferings; our inward man The soul; is renewed day by day After the divine nature and likeness, receiving fresh degrees of spiritual strength, purity, and consolation, in proportion as the body grows weaker, and we feel our... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 4:18

2 Corinthians 4:18. While we look That is, this weight of glory will be wrought out for us while we look, or provided we look, namely, by faith and expectation; not at the things which are seen Men, money, honour, pleasure, the things of earth; for to look at these will only render us more earthly and carnal, more unfit for the heavenly state; but at the things which are not seen God, Christ, grace, glory; the things of heaven: to look at which with faith, desire, and expectation, will... 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 4:17

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Corinthians 4:18

look . Greek. skopeo . See Luke 11:35 . seen. Greek. blepo. App-133 .:6. temporal = temporary, for a season. Greek. proskairos, Only here, Matthew 13:21 .Mark 4:17 . Hebrews 11:25 . 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

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