But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
But {G235}{G846} we had {G2192} the sentence {G610} of death {G2288} in {G1722} ourselves {G1438}, that {G3363} we should {G3982} not {G3363} trust {G3982} in {G1909} ourselves {G1438}{G5600}, but {G235} in {G1909} God {G2316} which {G3588} raiseth {G1453} the dead {G3498}:
In our hearts we felt we were under sentence of death. However, this was to get us to rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead!
Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.
yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead:
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2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God; -
Hebrews 11:19
Accounting that God [was] able to raise [him] up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. -
Romans 4:17
¶ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. -
Romans 4:25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. -
2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. -
2 Corinthians 12:7
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. -
2 Corinthians 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 1:9 (KJV) is a profound verse where the Apostle Paul reflects on his intense suffering and the divine purpose behind it. It speaks to the core of Christian reliance on God rather than self-sufficiency.
Context
This verse is part of Paul's opening remarks to the Corinthian church, where he defends his apostolic ministry and shares his experiences of affliction. In the preceding verses (2 Corinthians 1:8), Paul describes facing such severe pressure and despair in Asia that he "despaired even of life." This extreme distress provided the backdrop for the profound spiritual lesson conveyed in verse 9. The Corinthian believers themselves were facing various challenges, and Paul's transparency about his own struggles would have offered both comfort and a model for enduring trials.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "sentence of death" (Greek: apokrima tou thanatou) conveys a strong sense of a verdict or judicial decision leading to death. It suggests an inescapable doom from a human perspective, highlighting the extremity of Paul's situation. The word apokrima can mean a "response" or "decision," indicating that death's verdict was already sealed in his own mind, making human effort futile. This emphasizes the contrast with God's ultimate power to reverse even such a final "sentence."
Practical Application
For believers today, 2 Corinthians 1:9 offers immense encouragement and a vital spiritual lesson. When we encounter overwhelming difficulties, despair, or situations where we feel utterly helpless, this verse reminds us that these very circumstances can be tools in God's hands. They serve to strip away our self-reliance and compel us to place our complete faith and hope in God alone. It teaches us that God's power is most evident not in our strength, but in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and that He is capable of delivering us from any "sentence of death," whether literal or metaphorical, because He is the God who raises the dead.