Weight (922) (baros) (noun) means heaviness, weight (a heavy weight), burden, trouble, load. It describes that which presses on a person physically. The burden of a thing (hardship, daily toil - Mt 20:12) or that which a person bears (Gal 6:2 - oppressive suffering), imposition of religious requirement (Acts 15:28, difficult duty in Rev 2:24), weight as equivalent to authority (wield authority, insist on one's own importance - 1Th 2:7 and secular Greek writings). Baros was used in some Greek secular writings in a metaphorical sense to describe grief or misery. Paul's uses in 2Co 4:17 is metaphorical where it pictures a believer's future glory. TDNT... Originally “weight,” then figuratively “suffering,” “power.” A. In the Greek and Hellenistic World. 1. From physical weight the meaning is first extended to “tone” or “stress” in speech. 2. The next development is to “thrust,” with a nuance of force or violence. 3. A rather different use is for “fullness,” “plenitude,” “maturity.” 4. The next meaning is “oppressive suffering,” e.g., illness, depression, and burdensome taxation. 5. Finally we have a common use for “weight” in the sense of “dignity or power,” e.g., personal appearance or influence, the power of a state, or the power of arms. Baros - 6x in 6v in NAS - asserted...authority(1), burden(3), burdens(1), weight(1). Matthew 20:12 saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.' Acts 15:28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 2 Corinthians 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 1Thessalonians 2:6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. Revelation 2:24 'But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them-- I place no other burden on you. Jesus alludes to the reward awaiting the suffer saint calling on him to... Rejoice, and be glad, (literally means to "jump for joy"!) for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Mt 5:12-note) Comment: Both rejoice and be glad (agalliao) are commands to carry out these attitudes and actions at all times (present imperative), especially when you are being persecuted for the sake of God's righteousness (not self-righteousness) and the Name of your Lord and King Jesus Christ. The joy commanded here, as elsewhere in Scripture (esp. Jas 1:2-note) is not an emotion but a supernaturally enabled attitude, one component of the fruit of the Spirit ( Gal 5:22-note, Gal 5:23-note). The practical point is that if we don't rejoice when we suffer for our King's sake, it amounts to disobedience and is a reflection of our failure to really believe His promises, including the promise of 2Cor 4:17 of surpassing eternal glory. The world can take away every possession we own but it cannot disown us from Jesus and the joy He gives. And the worst the world can do to us is only temporary, while the glory we enjoy is eternal. ><>><>><> The Greatest Blessing - If we could ask the apostle Paul what he saw as life’s greatest blessing, I suspect he would answer something like this: “Personal salvation with its provision of the present and the future.” For him, nothing else really mattered. He constantly looked beyond his trials and adversities, sensing the presence of Jesus Christ and rejoicing in the prospect of happiness in heaven with Him. Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand spent 14 years in prison for preaching the gospel. Although his captors smashed four of his vertebrae and either cut or burned 18 holes in his body, they could not defeat him. He testified, “Alone in my cell, cold, hungry, and in rags, I danced for joy every night.” During this time he turned to a fellow prisoner, a man he had led to the Lord before they were arrested, and asked, “Have you any resentment against me that I brought you to Christ?” His response: “I have no words to express my thankfulness that you brought me to the wonderful Savior. I would never have it another way.” These two men exemplify the supernatural joy that can be experienced by believers who live on the edge of death as the result of being severely persecuted. Salvation, which brings strength for today and hope for tomorrow, lasts forever. Therefore, we don’t have to be defeated by troublesome circumstances. When we know we are saved, we have the assurance that God is at work in our lives, preparing us for the eternal realities of the better world. Yes, salvation is life’s greatest blessing. - H. V. Lugt ><>><>><> Interest in Advance - The Holy Spirit, who indwells every believer, gives us a foretaste of the coming glory of heaven. He is therefore called the “earnest” or pledge of the inheritance we shall receive by God’s grace in eternity (Eph. 1:13, 14). In biblical times, the word “earnest” was a trade term for the initial payment on a debt. It was made as a promise that full payment would be forthcoming. In principle, then, when an earnest was given, the final installment was guaranteed. Likewise, the joy we experience now through God’s Spirit is just a kind of first installment of the rich blessings that His children will receive in eternity. A wealthy man called his faithful assistant into his office one day and said, “I’ve put your name in my will, and someday you’ll receive $10,000. Since it may be a while before you get that legacy, I want to make you happy now by paying you the interest on that amount each year. Here is a check for $600 as a starter.” The surprised clerk was doubly grateful. The prospect of the inheritance was certainly good news, but the money he received in advance gave him complete assurance that someday the entire $10,000 would be his. As God’s children, let’s rejoice in the riches we now have in Christ through the Holy Spirit. He is our guarantee of the “exceeding and eternal weight of glory” that our Heavenly Father will one day give to the heirs of salvation (2Cor 4:17). Our present blessings are but a token of the greater inheritance we will eventually receive. ><>><>><> Afflictions Glory If we place our present "afflictions" on the scale and our promised future "glory" on the other side of the scale, the scales will be tipped heavily in favor of our eternal glory. Try to remember this picture the next time you experience afflictions. Thomas Watson They shall not only have weight for weight, measure for measure, their load of glory for their load of sufferings—but they shall have over-weight, over-measure; good measure, pressed down, heaped together, and running over shall then be given unto them. According to their deep poverty, shall be the height of their riches; according as their blackness has been in their houses of bondage shall, be their brightness in the land of promise. "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/2corinthians_417_commentary.htm#w