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Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4 verses 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, Co2 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, afflicted many ways, and we meet with almost all sorts of troubles; yet not distressed, Co2 4:8. We are not hedged in nor cooped up, because we can see help in God, and help from God, and have liberty of access to God." Again, "We are perplexed, often uncertain, and in doubt what will become of us, and not always without anxiety in our minds on this account; yet not in despair (Co2 4:8), even in our greatest perplexities, knowing that God is able to support us, and to deliver us, and in him we always place our trust and hope." Again, "We are persecuted by men, pursued with hatred and violence from place to place, as men not worthy to live; yet not forsaken of God," Co2 4:9. Good men may be sometimes forsaken of their friends, as well as persecuted by their enemies; but God will never leave them nor forsake them. Again, "We are sometimes dejected, or cast down; the enemy may in a great measure prevail, and our spirits begin to fail us; there may be fears within, as well as fightings without; yet we are not destroyed," Co2 4:9. Still they were preserved, and kept their heads above water. Note, Whatever condition the children of God may be in, in this world, they have a "but not" to comfort themselves with; their case sometimes is bad, yea very bad, but not so bad as it might be. The apostle speaks of their sufferings as constant, and as a counterpart of the sufferings of Christ, Co2 4:10. The sufferings of Christ were, after a sort, re-acted in the sufferings of Christians; thus did they bear about the dying of the Lord Jesus in their body, setting before the world the great example of a suffering Christ, that the life of Jesus might also be made manifest, that is, that people might see the power of Christ's resurrection, and the efficacy of grace in and from the living Jesus, manifested in and towards them, who did yet live, though they were always delivered to death (Co2 4:11), and though death worked in them (Co2 4:12), they being exposed to death, and ready to be swallowed up by death continually. So great were the sufferings of the apostles that, in comparison with them, other Christians were, even at this time, in prosperous circumstances: Death worketh in us; but life in you, Co2 4:12.
II. What it was that kept them from sinking and fainting under their sufferings, Co2 4:13-18. Whatever the burdens and troubles of good men may be, they have cause enough not to faint.
1.Faith kept them from fainting: We have the same spirit of faith (Co2 4:13), that faith which is of the operation of the Spirit; the same faith by which the saints of old did and suffered such great things. Note, The grace of faith is a sovereign cordial, and an effectual antidote against fainting-fits in troublous times. The spirit of faith will go far to bear up the spirit of a man under his infirmities; and as the apostle had David's example to imitate, who said (Psa 116:10), I have believed, and therefore have I spoken, so he leaves us his example to imitate: We also believe, says he, and therefore speak. Note, As we receive help and encouragement from the good words and examples of others, so we should be careful to give a good example to others.
2.Hope of the resurrection kept them from sinking, Co2 4:14. They knew that Christ was raised, and that his resurrection was an earnest and assurance of theirs. This he had treated of largely in his former epistle to these Corinthians, Co1 15:1. And therefore their hope was firm, being well grounded, that he who raised up Christ the head will also raise up all his members. Note, The hope of the resurrection will encourage us in a suffering day, and set us above the fear of death; for what reason has a good Christian to fear death, that dies in hope of a joyful resurrection?
3.The consideration of the glory of God and the benefit of the church, by means of their sufferings, kept them from fainting, Co2 4:15. Their sufferings were for the church's advantage (Co2 1:6), and thus did redound to God's glory. For, when the church is edified, then God is glorified; and we may well afford to bear sufferings patiently and cheerfully when we see others are the better for them - if they are instructed and edified, if they are confirmed and comforted. Note, The sufferings of Christ's ministers, as well as their preaching and conversation, are intended for the good of the church and the glory of God.
4.The thoughts of the advantage their souls would reap by the sufferings of their bodies kept them from fainting: Though our outward man perish, our inward man is renewed day by day, Co2 4:16. Here note, (1.) We have every one of us an outward and an inward man, a body and a soul. (2.) If the outward man perish, there is no remedy, it must and will be so, it was made to perish. (3.) It is our happiness if the decays of the outward man do contribute to the renewing of the inward man, if afflictions outwardly are gain to us inwardly, if when the body is sick, and weak, and perishing, the soul is vigorous and prosperous. The best of men have need of further renewing of the inward man, even day by day. Where the good work is begun there is more work to be done, for carrying it forward. And as in wicked men things grow every day worse and worse, so in godly men they grow better and better.
5.The prospect of eternal life and happiness kept them from fainting, and was a mighty support and comfort. As to this observe, (1.) The apostle and his fellow-sufferers saw their afflictions working towards heaven, and that they would end at last (Co2 4:17), whereupon they weighed things aright in the balance of the sanctuary; they did as it were put the heavenly glory in one scale and their earthly sufferings in the other; and, pondering things in their thoughts, they found afflictions to be light, and the glory of heaven to be a far more exceeding weight. That which sense was ready to pronounce heavy and long, grievous and tedious, faith perceived to be light and short, and but for a moment. On the other hand, the worth and weight of the crown of glory, as they are exceedingly great in themselves, so they are esteemed to be by the believing soul - far exceeding all his expressions and thoughts; and it will be a special support in our sufferings when we can perceive them appointed as the way and preparing us for the enjoyment of the future glory. (2.) Their faith enabled them to make this right judgment of things: We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, Co2 4:18. It is by faith that we see God, who is invisible (Heb 11:27), and by this we look to an unseen heaven and hell, and faith is the evidence of things not seen. Note, [1.] There are unseen things, as well as things that are seen. [2.] There is this vast difference between them: unseen things are eternal, seen things but temporal, or temporary only. [3.] By faith we not only discern these things, and the great difference between them, but by this also we take our aim at unseen things, and chiefly regard them, and make it our end and scope, not to escape present evils, and obtain present good, both of which are temporal and transitory, but to escape future evil and obtain future good things, which though unseen, are real, and certain, and eternal; and faith is the substance of things hoped for, as well as the evidence of things not seen, Heb 11:1.
"Wherefore, girding up your loins," "serve the Lord in fear" and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and "believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory," and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. His blood will God require of those who do not believe in Him. But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; "not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing," or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: "Judge not, that ye be not judged; forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you; be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again;" and once more, "Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God."
Now of what life of Christ does he here speak? Of that which we are now living? Then how is it, that in the words which follow he exhorts us not to the things which are seen and are temporal, but to those which are not seen and are eternal -in other words, not to the present, but to the future? But if it be of the future life of Christ that he speaks, intimating that it is to be made manifest in our body, then he has clearly predicted the resurrection of the flesh. He says, too, that "our outward man perishes," not meaning by an eternal perdition after death, but by labours and sufferings, in reference to which he previously said, "For which cause we will not faint.
What fellowship has light with darkness, life with death?
"That He which raised up Jesus, shall raise up also, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God."
Again, he fills them with lofty thoughts, that they may not hold themselves indebted to men, I mean to the false Apostles. For the whole is of God Who willeth to bestow upon many, so that the grace may appear the greater. For your sakes, therefore, was the resurrection and all the other things. For He did not these things for the sake of one only, but of all.
Paul believed that through the work of Christ he and all believers were made greater than death and that they would all be brought before the terrible seat of judgment.
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SUMMARY
Second Corinthians 4:14 offers a profound declaration of the believer's future hope, rooted in the historical and theological certainty of Christ's resurrection. Paul assures believers that just as God the Father powerfully raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, He will likewise raise all who are in Christ, using Jesus as the divine agent. This future resurrection culminates in a glorious, communal presentation of believers before God, emphasizing both individual vindication and the corporate destiny of the church.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Paul employs several powerful literary devices in this concise verse. The primary device is Assurance, conveyed through the declarative "Knowing that" and the use of the future tense "shall raise up" and "shall present," which speaks to the absolute certainty of the divine promise. There is also a strong sense of Anticipation, as the verse looks forward to a future event—the resurrection and presentation—which provides hope and motivation for enduring present sufferings. The phrase "us also by Jesus" and "us with you" utilizes Communal Language, highlighting the corporate nature of salvation and the shared destiny of all believers, fostering a sense of solidarity and mutual hope within the Christian community. Finally, the verse is built upon a foundation of Theological Certainty, drawing a direct parallel between God's past action in raising Jesus and His future action in raising believers, thereby demonstrating the consistent and unwavering power of God in salvation history.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is a cornerstone of Christian eschatology, vividly portraying the believer's future hope as inextricably tied to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It underscores the profound truth that our salvation is not merely spiritual but encompasses our entire being, including our physical bodies, which will be transformed and glorified. The power that raised Christ from the dead is the same divine power at work within believers, guaranteeing their future triumph over death. This hope is not a private, individualistic experience but a communal one, emphasizing the corporate body of Christ being presented together before God. It reinforces the doctrine of the believer's union with Christ, where His victory becomes our victory, and His destiny becomes our destiny, culminating in an eternal, glorified existence in God's presence.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For believers today, 2 Corinthians 4:14 offers profound encouragement and a steadfast foundation for hope, particularly in a world marked by suffering, loss, and the inevitability of death. It reminds us that our present afflictions, no matter how severe, are temporary and pale in comparison to the eternal glory awaiting us. This glorious future, guaranteed by Christ's own resurrection, is a powerful antidote to present despair, fostering perseverance, joy, and courage even in the face of hardship or the grave. It reinforces the truth that our ultimate destiny is not decay and oblivion but resurrection life, shared with Christ and with the entire community of faith. This hope transforms our perspective on suffering, enabling us to live with an eternal mindset, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain and that our ultimate vindication and glorification are assured in His presence, alongside all who believe.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus" mean for believers?
Answer: This phrase means that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the absolute guarantee and pattern for the future resurrection of all who believe in Him. The same divine power that God the Father exercised in raising Jesus from the dead will be exercised again to raise believers. The phrase "by Jesus" emphasizes that Christ is not just the example, but the active agent and the means through whom our resurrection will occur. Our union with Him in His death and resurrection ensures our participation in His future triumph over death, as stated in Romans 6:5. It signifies a literal, bodily resurrection, not merely a spiritual one.
What is the significance of "and shall present [us] with you"?
Answer: This clause highlights the glorious culmination of the resurrection and its communal aspect. "Present" (Greek: parístēmi) suggests a formal, honorable introduction or presentation before a dignitary, in this case, before God. It implies vindication, acceptance, and glorification. The phrase "[us] with you" is crucial, emphasizing that this is not an isolated individual event but a corporate gathering of all believers. It underscores the shared destiny of the entire body of Christ, who will stand together in God's presence, fully redeemed and glorified. This communal presentation signifies the unity of the church and the collective joy of being welcomed into eternal fellowship with God, as envisioned in Revelation 21:3.
How does this verse provide comfort to those grieving or facing death?
Answer: This verse offers profound comfort by providing an unshakeable hope beyond death. For those grieving, it assures them that death is not the end for believers, but a temporary separation. The same God who raised Jesus will raise their loved ones who died in Christ, and they will be reunited in His presence. For those facing their own mortality, it removes the sting of death by guaranteeing a future bodily resurrection and a glorious presentation before God. This hope transforms death from a final defeat into a transition to eternal life with Christ and the communion of saints, echoing Jesus' words, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25-26).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Second Corinthians 4:14 finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment of resurrection and the guarantee of our future hope. His resurrection is not merely a historical event but the foundational promise for all who believe, for He is the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). Christ is the divine agent, the "by Jesus," through whom God the Father will accomplish the resurrection of believers. As the one who conquered death, He holds the keys to life and the grave, and His ongoing intercession ensures that none who are His will be lost (John 6:40). Furthermore, the promise of being "presented [us] with you" points directly to Christ's role as the one who will present His church to the Father. He is the Great High Priest who sanctifies and cleanses His bride, the church, "that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). Our future resurrection and glorious presentation are entirely dependent on His victory, His power, and His faithful love, making Him the Alpha and Omega of our salvation, the one who is "able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 1:24).