The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 1:8 Explained

2 Corinthians 1:8

KJV: For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

YLT: For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, of our tribulation that happened to us in Asia, that we were exceedingly burdened above our power, so that we despaired even of life;

Darby: For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, as to our tribulation which happened to us in Asia, that we were excessively pressed beyond our power, so as to despair even of living.

ASV: For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

Discover 2 Corinthians 1:8

CONTEXT: What is the Context of 2 Corinthians 1:8?

MEANING: What does 2 Corinthians 1:8 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 1:8 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in 2 Corinthians 1:8?

What is the context of 2 Corinthians 1:8?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

What does 2 Corinthians 1:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

We cannot identify certainly the precise affliction to which Paul referred. This text and others in the New Testament do not give us enough information. The fact that Paul did not explain exactly what caused his affliction is significant. Evidently he wanted the Corinthians and us to focus on the intensity of the affliction as he felt it. This is what he emphasized here rather than the specific cause of his suffering. He spoke of his affliction as though the Corinthians knew about it, so probably they had more information about it than we do.

Commentators have conjectured what the specific problem may have been and have come up with many different possibilities. Perhaps Paul referred to fighting wild beasts at Ephesus, the uproar at Ephesus instigated by Demetrius, or a later outbreak of hostility against Paul at Ephesus. He may have had in mind various unspecified trials and plots against Paul"s life, a succession of persecutions in Asia, or an attempt to lynch Paul. Perhaps he referred to shipwreck followed by a night and a day in the sea, anxiety over the state of the Corinthian church, a deadly sickness, or Paul"s thorn in the flesh. ^[1] What we can say certainly about Paul"s affliction is that the Corinthians failed to appreciate its intensity.

"Hence Paul writes to tell them not what it was, but how it had oppressed him beyond endurance." ^[2]

It occurred in the Roman province of Asia (the western part of modern Turkey), and it would have been a fatal affliction had God not intervened. Furthermore it was a suffering "of Christ" ( 2 Corinthians 1:5), connected somehow with Paul"s ministry to the Corinthians ( 2 Corinthians 1:6).

"Whatever this thlipsis ^[3] may have been, he hints that it was far worse than what the Corinthians had to endure." ^[4]

Context Summary

2 Corinthians 1:1-11 - Sharing Comfort In Affliction

This was a circular letter, including in its scope all the scattered communities in the district. Grace was the usual salutation of the West, Peace of the East. Here they meet. All our mercies emanate from the Father's heart, and all comfort comes from the Comforter. When next passing through great sorrow and trial, notice how near God comes and what He says. Try to learn His methods, to get His secret. Remember that you are being comforted in order to comfort others. God is training you to be, like Barnabas, a "son of consolation." The gains of trial are immense, because they furnish the experience from which others may profit. Often God ministers comfort by sending a friend, 2 Corinthians 7:5-7.

Either through persecution or through severe illness Paul had been brought to the gates of death, 2 Corinthians 1:8. His recovery was little less than a miracle, but throughout his trust never wavered. Dare to believe, like Paul, that God has delivered, doth deliver, and will deliver! Past, present, and coming deliverances blend in this sweet verse. What He hath done, He doth now, and will do. Only see to it that you have the sentence of death in yourself, and on yourself, and that you go out of yourself to God, in whom is all necessary help. In such hours we may also receive great help from the faith of our friends, 2 Corinthians 1:11. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 1

¹ Paul salutes the Corinthians;
³ he encourages them against troubles,
⁵ by the comforts and deliverances which God had given him,
⁸ so particularly in his late danger in Asia
¹² And calling both his own conscience and theirs,
¹⁵ he excuses his not coming to them, as proceeding not of lightness,
²³ but of his care for them

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 1:8

Concerning our affliction [υπερ της τλιπσεως ημων]
Manuscripts read also περι peri for in the Koiné{[28928]}š υπερ huper (over) often has the idea of περι peri (around). Paul has laid down his philosophy of afflictions and now he cites a specific illustration in his own recent experience. [source]

In Asia [εν Ασιαι]
Probably in Ephesus, but what it was we do not know whether sickness or peril. We do know that the disciples and the Asiarchs would not allow Paul to face the mob in the amphitheatre gathered by Demetrius (Acts 20:30.). In Romans 16:4 Paul says that Prisca and Aquila laid down their necks for him, risked their very lives for him. It may have been a later plot to kill Paul that hastened his departure from Ephesus (Acts 20:1). He had a trial so great that “we were weighed down exceedingly beyond our power” Old verb from βαρος baros weight, βαρυς barus weighty. First aorist passive indicative. See note on 1 Corinthians 12:31 for kath' huperbolēn (cf. our hyperbole). It was beyond Paul‘s power to endure if left to himself. Insomuch that we despaired even of life (hōste exaporēthēnai hēmas kai tou zēin). Usual clause of result with κατ υπερβολην hōste and the infinitive. First aorist passive infinitive ωστε εχαπορητηναι ημας και του ζηιν exaporēthēnai late compound for utter despair (perfective use of ωστε ex and at a complete loss, εχαπορητηναι a privative and εχ poros way). There seemed no way out. Of life Ablative case of the articular infinitive, of living. [source]

Insomuch that we despaired even of life [hōste exaporēthēnai hēmas kai tou zēin)]
Usual clause of result with κατ υπερβολην hōste and the infinitive. First aorist passive infinitive ωστε εχαπορητηναι ημας και του ζηιν exaporēthēnai late compound for utter despair (perfective use of ωστε ex and at a complete loss, εχαπορητηναι a privative and εχ poros way). There seemed no way out. [source]

Of life [α]
Ablative case of the articular infinitive, of living. [source]

We would not have you ignorant []
See on Romans 1:13. [source]

Came to us in Asia []
Rev., better, befell. The nature of the trouble is uncertain. The following words seem to indicate inward distress rather than trouble from without, such as he experienced at Ephesus. [source]

Were pressed out of measure [καθ ' ὑπερβολὴν ἐβαρήθημεν]
Rev., better, were weighed down, thus giving the etymological force of the verb, from βάρος burdenFor out of measure, Rev, exceedingly; see on 1 Corinthians 2:1. [source]

We despaired [ἐξαπορηθῆναι]
Only here and 2 Corinthians 4:8. From ἐξ outand out, and ἀπορέω tobe without a way of escape. See on did many things, Mark 6:20. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 1:8

Acts 20:23 In every city [κατα πολιν]
Singular here though plural in κατ οικους kat' oikous (Acts 20:20). Bonds and afflictions (δεσμα και τλιπσεις desma kai thlipseis). Both together as in Philemon 1:17; 2 Corinthians 1:8. Literal bonds and actual pressures. Abide me With the accusative as in Acts 20:5 (εμενον ημας emenon hēmas) and nowhere else in the N.T. [source]

Acts 20:23 Bonds and afflictions [δεσμα και τλιπσεις]
Both together as in Philemon 1:17; 2 Corinthians 1:8. Literal bonds and actual pressures. [source]

1 Corinthians 15:30 Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? [τι και ημεις κινδυνευομεν πασαν ωραν]
We also as well as those who receive baptism which symbolizes death. Old verb from κινδυνος kindunos (peril, danger), in N.T. only here and Luke 8:23. Paul‘s Epistles and Acts (especially chapter Acts 19) throw light on Paul‘s argument. He was never out of danger from Damascus to the last visit to Rome. There are perils in Ephesus of which we do not know (2 Corinthians 1:8.) whatever may be true as to an Ephesian imprisonment. G. S. Duncan (St. Paul‘s Ephesian Ministry, 1930) even argues for several imprisonments in Ephesus. The accusative of time (πασαν ωραν pasan hōran) naturally means all through every hour (extension). [source]

1 Corinthians 16:9 And there are many adversaries [και αντικειμενοι πολλοι]
“And many are lying opposed to me,” lined up against me. These Paul mentions as a reason for staying in, not for leaving, Ephesus. Read Acts 19 and see the opposition from Jews and Gentiles with the explosion under the lead of Demetrius. And yet Paul suddenly leaves. He hints of much of which we should like to know more (1 Corinthians 15:32; 2 Corinthians 1:8.). [source]

2 Corinthians 6:9 And behold, we live [και ιδου ζωμεν]
Cf. the hazards of his life (2 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 11:23). His whole career is full of paradox). [source]

2 Corinthians 8:3 Beyond their power [παρα δυναμιν]
“Alongside” with accusative like υπερ δυναμιν huper dunamin in 2 Corinthians 1:8. Field (Ot. Nov.) quotes Josephus (Ant. iii. 6, 1) for κατα δυναμιν kata dunamin and παρα δυναμιν para dunamin as here. Few give κατα δυναμιν kata dunamin (according to actual ability). Paul commends this high pressure collection because of the emergency. [source]

2 Thessalonians 2:1 By the coming [ὑπὲρ]
More correctly touching. Comp. Romans 9:27; 2 Corinthians 1:8. Ὑπὲρ never in N.T. in a formula of swearing. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 1:8 mean?

Not for do we want you to be ignorant brothers as to the affliction of us - having happened in - Asia that against excessively beyond [our] power we were weighed so as to despair for us even - to live

Οὐ γὰρ θέλομεν ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν ἀδελφοί ὑπὲρ τῆς θλίψεως ἡμῶν τῆς γενομένης ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ ὅτι καθ’ ὑπερβολὴν ὑπὲρ δύναμιν ἐβαρήθημεν ὥστε ἐξαπορηθῆναι ἡμᾶς καὶ τοῦ ζῆν

θέλομεν	do we want
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural Root: θέλω Sense: to will, have in mind, intend.
ἀγνοεῖν	to be ignorant
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active Root: ἀγνοέω Sense: to be ignorant, not to know.
ἀδελφοί	brothers
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural Root: ἀδελφός Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.
ὑπὲρ	as to
Parse: Preposition Root: ὑπέρ Sense: in behalf of, for the sake of.
θλίψεως	affliction
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: θλῖψις Sense: a pressing, pressing together, pressure.
ἡμῶν	of us
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my.
τῆς	-
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
γενομένης	having happened
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: γίνομαι Sense: to become, i.
τῇ	-
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἀσίᾳ	Asia
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: Ἀσία Sense: Asia proper or proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to Turkey today.
ὅτι	that
Parse: Conjunction Root: ὅτι Sense: that, because, since.
καθ’	against
Parse: Preposition Root: κατά Sense: down from, through out.
ὑπερβολὴν	excessively
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: ὑπερβολή Sense: a throwing beyond.
ὑπὲρ	beyond [our]
Parse: Preposition Root: ὑπέρ Sense: in behalf of, for the sake of.
δύναμιν	power
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: δύναμις Sense: strength power, ability.
ἐβαρήθημεν	we were weighed
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 1st Person Plural Root: βαρέω Sense: to burden, weigh down, depress.
ὥστε	so as
Parse: Conjunction Root: ὥστε Sense: so that, insomuch that.
ἐξαπορηθῆναι	to despair
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Passive Root: ἐξαπορέω Sense: to be utterly at loss, be utterly destitute of measures or resources, to renounce all hope, be in despair.
ἡμᾶς	for us
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Plural Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my.
καὶ	even
Parse: Conjunction Root: καί Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
τοῦ	-
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ζῆν	to live
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active Root: ζάω Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).

What are the major concepts related to 2 Corinthians 1:8?

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Similar Scriptures for 2 Corinthians 1:8

		1 Corinthians 15:32 [8]
		2 Corinthians 4:7-12 [8]
		1 Corinthians 16:9 [5]
		1 Corinthians 4:8 [5]
		Acts 19:23-35 [4]
		1 Samuel 20:3 [3]
		1 Samuel 27:1 [3]