2 Corinthians 4:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:8-18

In these verses the apostle gives an account of their courage and patience under all their sufferings, where observe, I. How their sufferings, and patience under them, are declared, 2 Cor. 4:8-12. The apostles were great sufferers; therein they followed their Master: Christ had told them that in the world they should have tribulation, and so they had; yet they met with wonderful support, great relief, and many allays of their sorrows. ?We are,? says the apostle, ?troubled on every side,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

4:16-18 That is the reason why we do not grow weary. But if indeed our outward frame is wasting away, our inward self is renewed day by day, for the light affliction which at the moment we must endure produces for us in a way that cannot be exaggerated an eternal weight of glory, so long as we do not think of the things which are seen, but of the things which are unseen, for the things which are seen are passing, but the things which are unseen are eternal. Here Paul sets out the secret of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:18

While we look not at the things which are seen ,.... These are the things of this world, such as riches, honours, pleasures, profits, &c.; which are visible to, and strike the senses of a natural man, and are temporal, endure but for a time, are transitory, fleeting, and quickly gone. To "look" at these things is to desire them, set the affections on them, and to make the enjoyment of them a man's chief scope and aim; and when this is the case, afflictions cannot be said to work for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:18

While we look not at the things which are seen - Μη σκοπουντων . While we aim not at the things which are seen; do not make them our object; are not striving to obtain them; for they are not worthy the pursuit of an immortal spirit, because they are seen; they are objects to which the natural eye can reach; and they are προσκαιρα , temporary; they are to have a short duration, and must have an end. But the things which we make our scope and aim are not seen; they are spiritual, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:18

Verse 18 While we look not. Mark what it is, that will make all the miseries of this world easy to be endured, — if we carry forward our thoughts to the eternity of the heavenly kingdom. For a moment is long, if we look around us on this side and on that; but, when we have once raised our minds heavenward, a thousand years begin to appear to us to be like a moment. Farther, the Apostle’s words intimate, that we are imposed upon by the view of present things, because there is nothing there that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

The Christian minister is upheld by hope. 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 4:18

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 4:18

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

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