Paul pointed out four specific ways in which the weakness of his earthen vessel contrasted with God"s power (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:5; 2 Corinthians 1:10). He may have been thinking of himself as a gladiator or soldier in view of what he wrote. He had been on the ropes but not trapped in a corner. He was without proper provision but not completely without resources. He was a hunted man but not totally forsaken. Finally he felt beaten down but not destroyed. In these respects his life, representing all believers who herald the gospel, was very like our Lord"s. Paul"s numerous escapes from defeat and death were signs of Christ"s power at work in him. [source][source][source]
"To be at the end of man"s resources is not to be at the end of God"s resources; on the contrary, it is to be precisely in the position best suited to prove and benefit from them, and to experience the surplus of the power of God breaking through and resolving the human dilemma. [source][source][source]
"As death is the culminating moment of the Christian"s weakness, so also it is the point at which the all-transcending power of God is most marvellously [1] displayed." [2][source]
"Verses8-9 represent the first of the "tribulation lists" (peristaseis) found within2Corinthians (see also 2 Corinthians 6:3-10; 2 Corinthians 11:23-33; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; cf. 2 Corinthians 1:5-11; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17)." [3][source]