2 Corinthians 1:9

KJV

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

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}:

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!

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.

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:

Commentary

### 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](/2_corinthians/1-8 "2 Corinthians 1:8 - Paul's Affliction in Asia"), 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](/2_corinthians/1 "2 Corinthians 1 - Paul's Comfort in Affliction").
* **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](/2_corinthians/11-23-27 "2 Corinthians 11:23-27 - Paul's Sufferings"). 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](/1_corinthians/15-32 "1 Corinthians 15:32 - Fighting Wild Beasts at Ephesus")), 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](/romans/5-3-5 "Romans 5:3-5 - Benefits of Suffering"). 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](/2_corinthians/12-9-10 "2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - God's Grace is Sufficient"). 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](/1_corinthians/15 "1 Corinthians 15 - The Resurrection of Christ").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **sentence (Greek, _apókrima'_):** From 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'_):** From 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'_):** From 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.

* [Psalm 34:19](/psalm/34-19 "Psalm 34:19 - Many are the afflictions of the righteous")
* [Isaiah 40:31](/isaiah/40-31 "Isaiah 40:31 - Waiting on the Lord")
* [Philippians 4:13](/philippians/4-13 "Philippians 4:13 - I Can Do All Things Through Christ")

### 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](/romans/8-8-11 "Romans 8:8-11 - Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus from the Dead")). 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](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). 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](/ephesians/2-4-6 "Ephesians 2:4-6 - Made Alive with Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.