2 Corinthians 1:9

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 1:9

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

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 1:1-24

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Thanksgiving in the midst of tribulation; uses of sorrow; comforting others; personal references. The ascription begins with "blessed," the strongest term the apostle could employ as representing the highest and strongest emotions, the head-word in the vocabulary of gratitude and praise, found in the Old and New Scriptures, and common to Jews and Gentile Christians. "Blessed;" the best in us acknowledging the God of grace, an anthem in a single utterance, and embodying the whole nature of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 1:6-11

Personal sufferings. "And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation," etc. The words suggest a few remarks concerning personal sufferings. I. THEY ARE OFTEN EXPERIENCED IN THE BEST OF ENTERPRISES . What a glorious enterprise Paul and his fellow apostles were engaged in!—nothing less than the restoration of mankind to the knowledge, image, and friendship of the great God. Yet how great their sufferings! "We were pressed out of measure, above strength,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

In the depths and out of them. I. THE EMERGENCIES OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD . God's children are often afflicted children. Far from escaping trial, it is frequently multiplied to them. Through much tribulation they enter the kingdom; with much tribulation they often abide in it whilst on earth. For them the furnace seems not seldom to be made "seven times hotter." Children of sorrows follow the "Man of sorrows." Like the apostle, they are sometimes "pressed out of measure,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

The sanctifying influence of nearness to death. In God's providence he brings his people sometimes to the "borderland," and, after giving the expectation, and almost the experience, of death, he leads them back to life and labour and relations again. Of this Hezekiah is the prominent Bible example. The sufferings through which the apostle had passed are not here detailed, and there is found much difficulty in deciding to what experiences he refers. Some think he recalls the tumult in... read more

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