2 Corinthians 1:8-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Corinthians 1:7-11

In these verses the apostle speaks for the encouragement and edification of the Corinthians; and tells them (2 Cor. 1:7) of his persuasion or stedfast hope that they should receive benefit by the troubles he and his companions in labour and travel had met with, that their faith should not be weakened, but their consolations increased. In order to this he tells them, 1. What their sufferings had been (2 Cor. 1:8): We would not have you ignorant of our trouble. It was convenient for the churches... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

1:8-11 I want you to know, brothers, about the terrible experience which happened to us in Asia, an experience in which we were excessively weighted down till it was beyond bearing, so that we despaired even of life. The only verdict we could give on our condition was the verdict of death; but this happened in order that we should not trust in ourselves but in the God who raises the dead. It was he who rescued us from so terrible a death, and who will rescue us. We hope in him that he will... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 1:8

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble ,.... The apostle was very desirous that the Corinthians might be thoroughly acquainted with the trouble that had lately befallen them; partly because it would clearly appear from hence what reason he had to give thanks to God as he had done; and partly, that they might be encouraged to trust in God, when in the utmost extremity; but chiefly in order to remove a charge brought against him by the false apostles; who, because he had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 1:9

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves ,.... By the sentence of death is meant, not any decree of heaven, or appointment of God that they should die; nor any sentence of condemnation and death passed on them by the civil magistrate; but an opinion or persuasion in their own breasts, that they should die; so far were they from any hopes of life, that they looked upon themselves as dead men, as the Egyptians did, when their firstborn were slain, and said, "we be all dead men", Exodus... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 1:10

Who delivered us from so great a death ,.... Accordingly, being enabled to trust in God, when all human hope and helps failed, to believe in hope against hope, then the Lord appeared for them, and delivered them from this heavy affliction; which, because by reason of it they were not only in danger of death, and threatened with, but were even under the sentence of it, is therefore called a death, and so great an one, see 2 Corinthians 11:23 . The apostle expresses the continuance of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 1:8

Our trouble which came to us in Asia - To what part of his history the apostle refers we know not: some think it is to the Jews lying in wait to kill him, Acts 20:3 ; others, to the insurrection raised against him by Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen, Acts 19:23 ; others, to his fighting with beasts at Ephesus, 1 Corinthians 15:32 , which they understand literally; and others think that there is a reference here to some persecution which is not recorded in any part of the apostle's... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 1:9

We had the sentence of death in ourselves - The tribulation was so violent and overwhelming, that he had no hope of escaping death. That we should not trust in ourselves - The tribulation was of such a nature as to take away all expectation of help but from God alone. But in God which raiseth the dead - This is very like the business at Lystra; and would be sufficient to fix the apostle's reference to that fact could the time and other circumstances serve. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 1:10

Who delivered us from so great a death - For the circumstances were such that no human power could avail. Will yet deliver us - Having had such a signal evidence of His interposition already, we will confide in him with an unshaken confidence that he will continue to support and deliver. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 1:8

Verse 8 8.For I would not have you ignorant He makes mention of the greatness and difficulty of his conflicts, that the glory of victory may thereby the more abundantly appear. Since the time of his sending them the former epistle, he had been exposed to great dangers, and had endured violent assaults. The probability, however, is that he refers here to the history, which Luke relates in Acts 19:23, though in that passage he does not so distinctly intimate the extent of the danger. As, however,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 1:9

Verse 9 9.Nay more, we had the sentence of death This is as though we should say — “I had already laid my account with dying, or had regarded it as a thing fixed.” He borrows, however, a similitude from those who are under sentence of death, and look for nothing but the hour when they are to die. At the same time he says, that this sentence had been pronounced by him upon himself, by which he intimates, that it was in his own view that he had been sentenced to death — that he might not seem to... read more

Group of Brands