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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.
Ye have never envied any one; ye have taught others. Now I desire that those things may be confirmed [by your conduct], which in your instructions ye enjoin [on others]. Only request in my behalf both inward and outward strength, that I may not only speak, but [truly] will; and that I may not merely be called a Christian, but really be found to be one. For if I be truly found [a Christian], I may also be called one, and be then deemed faithful, when I shall no longer appear to the world. Nothing visible is eternal. "For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." For our God, Jesus Christ, now that He is with the Father, is all the more revealed [in His glory]. Christianity is not a thing of silence only, but also of [manifest] greatness.
But us the Word enjoins "to look not on the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.".
With such persecution, if you have worldly wealth, if you have brothers allied by blood and other pledges, abandon the whole wealth of these which leads to evil; procure peace for yourself, free yourself from protracted persecutions; turn from them to the Gospel; choose before all the Saviour and Advocate and Paraclete of your soul, the Prince of life. "For the things which are seen are temporary; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Paul is saying that people who long for heavenly things despise the things of this world, because in comparison with what they want, these things are nothing.
And, to show you that he was as it were in solitude, and so looked upon the things present, hear himself saying, "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen." What sayest thou? Answer me. And yet what thou sayest is the contrary; thou seest the things invisible, and the visible thou seest not. Such eyes as thou hadst gotten, such are the eyes which are given by Christ: for as these bodily eyes see indeed the things that are seen, but things unseen they see not: so those heavenly eyes do the contrary: no one that beholds the invisible things, beholds the visible: no one beholding the things seen, beholds the invisible. Or is not this the case with us also? For when having turned our mind inwards we think of any of the unseen things, our views become raised above the things on earth.
Consider, dearly beloved, that life’s troubles, even if distressing, are still of short duration, whereas the good things that will come to us in the next life are eternal and everlasting. “What we see is passing,” Scripture says, “but what is not seen is everlasting.” Accordingly, let us endure what is passing without complaint and not desist from virtue’s struggle so that we may enjoy the good things that are eternal and last forever.
Far from being surprised or troubled, let us endure developments with complete fortitude and endurance, having regard not to the distress but to the gain accruing to us from it. This transaction, you see, is spiritual. People intent on making money and being involved in a transaction of this life would succeed in increasing their wealth in no other way than by being exposed to great danger on land and at sea (they must, after all, put up with the onset of brigands and wiles of pirates), and yet they are ready to accept everything with great enthusiasm, having no sense of hardship through the expectation of gain. In just the same way must we keep our mind on the wealth and spiritual riches accruing to us from this. We must rejoice and be glad, considering not what can be seen but what cannot be seen, as Paul’s exhortation goes, “not considering what can be seen.”
"For the things that are seen are temporal." Therefore the afflictions are so too. "But the things that are not seen are eternal." Therefore the crowns are so also. And he said not the afflictions are so, but "the things that are seen;" all of them, whether punishment or rest, so that we should be neither puffed up by the one nor overborne by the other. And therefore when speaking of the things to come, he said not the kingdom is eternal; but, "the things which are not seen are eternal," whether they be a kingdom, or again punishment; so as both to alarm by the one and to encourage by the other.
Since then "the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal," let us look to them. For what excuse even can we have, if we choose the temporal instead of the eternal? For even if the present be pleasurable, yet it is not abiding; whilst the woe it entails is abiding and irremissible.
If you seek temporal things, you pray publicly and with your door open. If you ask for eternal things, your prayer is secret because you long to receive not the things which are seen but those which are not seen.
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SUMMARY
Second Corinthians 4:18 provides a profound spiritual principle for navigating the challenges of life, urging believers to cultivate an eternal perspective. It contrasts the fleeting nature of visible, earthly realities with the enduring permanence of invisible, spiritual truths, asserting that what is seen is temporary, while what is unseen is eternal. This verse serves as a foundational call to shift one's focus from present suffering and transient circumstances to the immutable promises and glorious future found in God.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in 2 Corinthians 4:18 is Antithesis or Contrast. Paul deliberately juxtaposes two opposing sets of realities: "the things which are seen" versus "the things which are not seen," and "temporal" versus "eternal." This stark contrast serves to highlight the profound difference in value and significance between these two realms. By placing them side-by-side, Paul emphasizes the logical imperative for believers to prioritize the lasting over the fleeting. There is also an implied Metaphor in the word "look" (skopéō), which suggests a deliberate aiming or fixing of one's gaze, likening spiritual focus to a physical act of directed vision. This reinforces the idea that maintaining an eternal perspective is not passive but requires intentional effort and discipline.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Paul's declaration in 2 Corinthians 4:18 encapsulates a fundamental principle of biblical theology: the call to live by faith in the unseen realities of God's kingdom rather than by the fleeting appearances of the visible world. This verse provides the theological rationale for enduring suffering, understanding that present trials are momentary and purposeful when viewed through the lens of eternity. It underscores the immense value of spiritual realities over material ones, challenging believers to reorient their priorities and find their ultimate hope and security not in what they can perceive with their senses, but in the unchanging character and promises of an invisible God. This perspective is crucial for understanding the nature of true wealth, lasting joy, and the ultimate victory of God's purposes, which transcend earthly limitations and temporal boundaries.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For the contemporary believer, 2 Corinthians 4:18 serves as a timeless anchor and a practical guide for navigating a world often consumed by the immediate, the tangible, and the temporary. In an age of instant gratification, social media validation, and material pursuits, this verse calls for a radical reorientation of our values and focus. It challenges us to look beyond the surface-level anxieties, fleeting pleasures, and transient sorrows of daily life, and instead fix our gaze on the enduring truths of God's kingdom. This eternal perspective enables us to endure trials with profound hope, knowing that our present sufferings are "light" and "momentary" when weighed against the "eternal weight of glory" that awaits us. It empowers us to invest our lives in pursuits that have eternal significance—cultivating character, serving others, seeking righteousness, and deepening our relationship with God—rather than accumulating what will inevitably perish. By consciously choosing to prioritize the unseen, we cultivate resilience, peace, and a joy that is not dependent on fluctuating circumstances, but on the unchanging reality of God's eternal presence and promises.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean to "look not at the things which are seen"?
Answer: To "look not at the things which are seen" does not imply ignoring or denying the realities of our physical world or our present circumstances. Instead, it means to not make them our primary focus, our ultimate source of hope, or the sole basis for our decisions and emotions. The Greek word for "look" (skopéō) suggests a deliberate, fixed gaze, an aiming or considering carefully. Therefore, Paul is urging believers to actively choose where they direct their deepest attention and trust. While we must navigate the visible world, our ultimate perspective and hope should be anchored in the unseen, eternal realities of God's kingdom, His promises, and His ultimate purposes, which transcend the temporary nature of what we can physically perceive. This spiritual discipline allows us to see present difficulties as transient and to find enduring peace and purpose.
How can "things which are not seen" be "eternal"?
Answer: The "things which are not seen" refer to spiritual realities that exist beyond our physical senses but are nonetheless profoundly real and enduring. This includes God Himself, who is Spirit (John 4:24), His Word and promises (Psalm 119:89), the spiritual kingdom of God (Luke 17:20-21), the hope of resurrection and eternal life (John 3:16), and the "eternal weight of glory" that awaits believers (2 Corinthians 4:17). These realities are "eternal" (aiṓnios) because they are not subject to the limitations of time and decay that characterize the physical world. They are part of God's timeless nature and His unchanging plan, providing a stable and everlasting foundation for faith and hope in contrast to the temporal nature of all earthly things.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
2 Corinthians 4:18 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent "unseen" reality, the very image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). While He walked among us in visible flesh (John 1:14), His true nature as eternal God (John 1:1) was often unseen by human eyes. Through His death and resurrection, Christ conquered the temporal power of sin and death, offering believers an eternal hope that transcends all earthly suffering. He is the guarantee of the "eternal life" (John 3:16) and the "eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:15) that are among the "things which are not seen." Our ability to "look" at these unseen realities is made possible by the indwelling Holy Spirit, who illuminates our hearts to the truth of Christ (Ephesians 1:18). Ultimately, fixing our gaze on the unseen means fixing our gaze on the resurrected and ascended Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1), the source of all eternal glory and the ultimate fulfillment of all God's promises.