2 Corinthians 1:9

Translation
King James Version
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
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KJV (with Strong's)
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:
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Complete Jewish Bible
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!
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Berean Standard Bible
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.
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American Standard Version
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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World English Bible Messianic
Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead,
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Yea, we receiued the sentence of death in our selues, because we shoulde not trust in our selues, but in God, which rayseth the dead.
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Young's Literal Translation
but we ourselves in ourselves the sentence of the death have had, that we may not be trusting on ourselves, but on God, who is raising the dead,
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See also
2 Corinthians 3:5Hebrews 11:19Romans 4:17Romans 4:252 Corinthians 4:72 Corinthians 12:72 Corinthians 12:10
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In the KJVVerse 28,810 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

In 2 Corinthians 1:9, the Apostle Paul articulates a profound spiritual lesson drawn from his experience of extreme suffering and near-death affliction. He reveals that God permitted him to face what felt like a "sentence of death" not to destroy him, but with the specific divine purpose of stripping away any self-reliance. This harrowing experience was designed to redirect his absolute trust and confidence away from his own abilities and entirely toward God, who possesses the ultimate power to raise the dead, thereby demonstrating His sovereignty even over life and death.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse is situated within Paul's opening defense and explanation of his apostolic ministry to the Corinthian church. In the immediate preceding verse, 2 Corinthians 1:8, Paul vividly describes the overwhelming nature of his affliction in Asia, stating that he "despaired even of life." This extreme distress serves as the direct backdrop for the theological insight of verse 9. Paul's transparency about his profound suffering and the divine lesson he learned from it is crucial for establishing his credibility and providing a pastoral example of enduring hardship, a theme he continues to develop throughout 2 Corinthians.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: Paul's missionary journeys were fraught with immense dangers, including shipwrecks, beatings, imprisonment, and constant threats from various adversaries, as detailed in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27. The "sentence of death" likely refers to a specific, life-threatening event or series of events (perhaps in Ephesus, as hinted in 1 Corinthians 15:32), where Paul's life was genuinely imperiled. In the Roman world, travel was perilous, and Christians often faced hostility. Paul's audience in Corinth would have understood the very real and constant threats faced by apostles and missionaries, making his testimony relatable and impactful.
  • Key Themes: The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Paul's letters. Firstly, it highlights the divine purpose in suffering, asserting that God often uses trials to refine faith and reveal His power, as seen in Romans 5:3-5. Secondly, it underscores the critical theme of reliance on God alone versus self-sufficiency. Paul consistently teaches that human weakness is a prerequisite for divine strength, a concept profoundly articulated in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Finally, the phrase "God which raiseth the dead" introduces the theme of God's ultimate resurrection power, which is foundational to Christian hope and central to Paul's theology, particularly in 1 Corinthians 15.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • sentence (Greek, apókrima', G610): Meaning a "judicial decision" or "verdict." In this context, it conveys a strong sense of an inescapable doom or a final judgment of death that Paul felt had been pronounced upon him. It suggests that from a human perspective, his situation was beyond remedy, highlighting the extremity of his peril.
  • ourselves (Greek, heautoû', G1438): A reflexive pronoun referring to "himself, herself, itself, themselves." Used twice in the verse ("in ourselves" and "trust in ourselves"), it emphasizes the human inclination towards self-reliance, self-sufficiency, and confidence in one's own capabilities. Paul's experience was designed to dismantle this innate human tendency.
  • raiseth (Greek, egeírō', G1453): Meaning "to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e. rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, nonexistence)." This word powerfully describes God's active, life-giving power, especially His ability to bring life out of death, which is the ultimate demonstration of His sovereignty and omnipotence.

Verse Breakdown

  • "But we had the sentence of death in ourselves,": Paul describes a profound internal realization or experience where he perceived himself to be under a death sentence. This was not merely a feeling of despair, but a deep conviction that his life was forfeit, and human escape was impossible. The phrase "in ourselves" suggests an internal acknowledgment of his utter helplessness and the finality of the situation from a human perspective.
  • "that we should not trust in ourselves,": This clause reveals the divine purpose behind Paul's dire experience. God allowed him to face such an overwhelming threat precisely to break any residual self-reliance. The suffering was a pedagogical tool, designed to teach Paul (and by extension, the Corinthians and all believers) the futility of placing confidence in human strength, wisdom, or resources. It was a lesson in spiritual humility and dependence.
  • "but in God which raiseth the dead:": This climactic phrase presents the glorious alternative and the ultimate object of trust. Having been stripped of self-reliance, Paul's faith was redirected to God, whose power is supremely demonstrated in His ability to raise the dead. This refers not only to God's power over physical death (as seen in Christ's resurrection) but also His ability to deliver from any seemingly insurmountable "death sentence" or hopeless situation, whether literal or metaphorical. It anchors faith in God's ultimate, life-giving sovereignty.

Literary Devices

Paul masterfully employs several literary devices in this concise verse. The phrase "sentence of death" functions as a powerful Metaphor, conveying an overwhelming sense of impending doom and finality, as if a judicial verdict had been pronounced. This vivid imagery underscores the extremity of Paul's peril. A stark Contrast is central to the verse's message, juxtaposing "trust in ourselves" with "trust in God." This antithesis highlights the fundamental shift in reliance that God intended. Furthermore, the verse contains a profound Paradox: it is precisely in the experience of utter weakness and the acknowledgment of a "sentence of death" that the true power of God, who raises the dead, is revealed and becomes the sole object of faith. This highlights the counter-intuitive nature of God's ways, where human extremity becomes the arena for divine intervention.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

This verse is a cornerstone for understanding the theology of suffering and divine providence. It teaches that God, in His sovereign wisdom, can permit or even ordain intense trials and afflictions in the lives of His servants, not as punishment, but with a redemptive purpose. The "sentence of death" becomes a crucible designed to purify faith, dismantle self-sufficiency, and deepen absolute reliance on God alone. This reliance is not a passive resignation but an active, confident trust in God's power, which is most gloriously demonstrated in His ability to conquer death itself. It assures believers that even in the most hopeless human circumstances, God's power remains supreme and His purposes are unfailing, often using our greatest weaknesses to display His greatest strength.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

For believers today, 2 Corinthians 1:9 offers immense encouragement and a vital spiritual lesson. We all encounter situations that feel like a "sentence of death"—whether it's a devastating diagnosis, a crushing financial loss, the betrayal of a loved one, or the collapse of long-held dreams. In these moments of profound helplessness, our natural inclination is often to scramble for control, to rely on our own ingenuity, strength, or resources. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God often allows us to reach the end of ourselves precisely so that we might discover the boundless sufficiency of His power. It calls us to surrender our self-reliance and place our complete trust in the God who specializes in bringing life out of death, hope out of despair, and victory out of apparent defeat. Our weakness, when surrendered to Him, becomes the canvas upon which His resurrection power is most vividly displayed.

Questions for Reflection

  • What "sentence of death" (literal or metaphorical) might you be facing in your life right now, where you feel utterly helpless?
  • In what areas of your life do you tend to trust in yourself more than in God?
  • How does the truth that God "raiseth the dead" impact your perspective on seemingly impossible situations?
  • What practical steps can you take to intentionally shift your reliance from self to God in your current challenges?

FAQ

What does Paul mean by "the sentence of death in ourselves"?

Answer: Paul is describing an experience of extreme peril and despair where he felt as though he had received a final, inescapable verdict of death. This wasn't necessarily a literal judicial sentence, but a profound internal conviction that his life was forfeit and that from a human perspective, there was no hope of survival. It highlights the utter extremity of his suffering and the complete exhaustion of his own resources or ability to escape, leading him to acknowledge his helplessness before God.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

The ultimate fulfillment of God's power to "raise the dead" is found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul's experience of a "sentence of death" and subsequent reliance on God foreshadows the believer's journey through spiritual death to new life in Christ. Jesus Himself faced the ultimate "sentence of death" on the cross, yet God the Father, in His infinite power, raised Him from the grave, triumphing over sin and death (as celebrated in Romans 8:11). This divine act is the bedrock of Christian hope, assuring us that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in believers, enabling us to overcome spiritual death and providing hope for our future bodily resurrection (John 11:25-26). Thus, Paul's personal deliverance becomes a powerful testimony to the greater redemptive work of Christ, through whom believers are delivered from the "sentence of death" and given eternal life, learning to trust not in themselves, but in the God who conquered death through His Son (Ephesians 2:4-6).

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Commentary on 2 Corinthians 1 verses 7–11

In these verses the apostle speaks for the encouragement and edification of the Corinthians; and tells them (Co2 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 (Co2 1:8): We would not have you ignorant of our trouble. It was convenient for the churches to know what were the sufferings of their ministers. It is not certain what particular troubles in Asia are here referred to; whether the tumult raised by Demetrius at Ephesus, mentioned Acts 19, or the fight with beasts at Ephesus, mentioned in the former epistle (Co1 15:32), or some other trouble; for the apostle was in deaths often. This however is evident, that they were great tribulations. They were pushed out of measure, to a very extraordinary degree, above the common strength of men, or of ordinary Christians, to bear up under them, insomuch that they despaired even of life (Co2 1:8), and thought they should have been killed, or have fainted away and expired. 2. What they did in their distress: They trusted in God. And they were brought to this extremity in order that they should not trust in themselves but in God, Co2 1:9. Note, God often brings his people into great straits, that they may apprehend their own insufficiency to help themselves, and may be induced to place their trust and hope in his all-sufficiency. Our extremity is God's opportunity. In the mount will the Lord be seen; and we may safely trust in God, who raiseth the dead, Co2 1:9. God's raising the dead is a proof of his almighty power. He that can do this can do any thing, can do all things, and is worthy to be trusted in at all times. Abraham's faith fastened upon this instance of the divine power: He believed God who quickeneth the dead, Rom 4:17. If we should be brought so low as to despair even of life, yet we may then trust in God, who can bring back not only from the gates, but from the jaws, of death. 3. What the deliverance was that they had obtained; and this was seasonable and continued. Their hope and trust were not in vain, nor shall any who trust in him be ashamed. God had delivered them, and did still deliver them, Co2 1:10. Having obtained help of God, they continued to that day, Act 26:22. 4. What use they made of this deliverance: We trust that he will yet deliver us (Co2 1:10), that God will deliver to the end, and preserve to his heavenly kingdom. Note, Past experiences are great encouragements to faith and hope, and they lay great obligations to trust in God for time to come. We reproach our experiences if we distrust God in future straits, who hath delivered as in former troubles. David, even when a young man, and when he had but a small stock of experiences, argued after the manner of the apostle here, Sa1 17:37. 5. What was desired of the Corinthians upon this account: That they would help together by prayer for them (Co2 1:11), by social prayer, agreeing and joining together in prayer on their behalf. Note, our trusting in God must not supersede the use of any proper and appointed means; and prayer is one of those means. We should pray for ourselves and for one another. The apostle had himself a great interest in the throne of grace, yet he desires the help of others' prayers. If we thus help one another by our prayers, we may hope for an occasion of giving thanks by many for answer of prayer. And it is our duty not only to help one another with prayer, but in praise and thanksgiving, and thereby to make suitable returns for benefits received.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 7–11. Public domain.
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Clement of AlexandriaAD 215
The Stromata Book 1
"That we should trust not in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead "says the apostle, "who delivered us from so great a death, that our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. ""For the spiritual man judgeth all things, but he himself is judged of no man."
Basil of CaesareaAD 379
THE LONG RULES 8
Perfect renunciation, therefore, consists in not having an affection for this life and keeping before our minds the “answer of death, that we should not trust in ourselves.” But a beginning is made by detaching oneself from all external goods: property, vainglory, life in society, useless desires, after the example of the Lord’s holy disciples. James and John left their father Zebedee and the very boat upon which their whole livelihood depended. Matthew left his counting house and followed the Lord, not merely leaving behind the profits of his occupation but also paying no attention to the dangers which were sure to befall both himself and his family at the hands of the magistrates because he had left the tax accounts unfinished. To Paul, finally, the whole world was crucified, and he to the world.
AmbrosiasterAD 384
COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES
Paul means that there was such a violent upsurge of evil against preachers of the faith that death was staring them in the face. But God does not refuse his protection to people in extreme danger, especially when they belong to him. He rescued them when they were in deep despair. Their affliction was so great that they would not have withstood it if God had not been with them.
John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily 2 on 2 Corinthians
"But we had the answer of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead."

What is this, "the answer of death?" The vote, the judgment, the expectation. For so spake our affairs; our fortunes gave this answer "We shall surely die."

To be sure, this did not come to the proof, but only as far as to our anticipations, and stopped there: for the nature of our affairs did so declare, yet the power of God allowed not the declaration to take effect, but permitted it to happen only in our thought and in expectation: wherefore he saith, "We had the answer of death in ourselves," not in fact. And wherefore permitted He peril so great as to take away our hope and cause us to despair? "That we should not trust in ourselves," saith he, "but in God." These words Paul said, not that this was his own temper. Away with such a thought, but as attuning the rest by what he saith of himself, and in his great care to speak modestly. Whence also further on he saith, "There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, (meaning his trials,) lest I should be exalted overmuch." And yet God doth not say that He permitted them for this, but for another reason. What other? That His strength might be the more displayed; "For," saith he, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for My power is made perfect in weakness." But, as I said, he no here forgetteth his own peculiar character, classing himself with those who fall short exceedingly and stand in need of much discipline and correction.
PelagiusAD 418
COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 1
Death itself teaches us that all human help is inadequate and that our only hope is to rely on him who can raise us from the dead.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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