Bible Commentaries
2 Corinthians 4

Verse 1

Therefore = On account of (Greek. dia . App-104 . 2 Corinthians 4:2 ) this.

seeing we have = having.

ministry . Greek. diakonia App-190 .

have . Omit.

received mercy . Compare 1 Corinthians 7:25 .

faint . Greek. ekkakeo. Occurs: 2 Corinthians 4:16 , Luke 18:1 (which see). Galatians 1:6 , Galatians 1:9 . Eph 3:13 . 2 Thessalonians 3:13 .

not. Greek. ou . App-105 .

Verse 2

renounced. Greek. apeipon . Only here.

the hidden , &c. = the shameful secret things. This is the Figure of speech Antieoereia. App-6 .

dishonesty = shame. Greek. aischune. Always translated "shame", except here. Luke 14:9 . Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:19 . Hebrews 12:2 .Jude 1:19 . Revelation 3:18 .

not. Greek. me . App-105 .

in . Greek. en . App-104 .

craftiness . See Luke 20:23

nor . Greek mede,

handling . . . deceitfully . Greek. doloo. Only here.

word . Greek. logos. App-121 .

God. App-98 .

manifestation. Greek. phanerosis. See 1 Corinthians 12:7 . commending. See 2 Corinthians 3:1 .

to . Greek pros. App-104 .

every man's conscience. Lit, every conscience of men (Greek. anthropos. App-123 .1).

Verse 3

if. App-118 .

gospel , Compare App-140 .

hid = hid (Greek. kaluptd, to cover or veil) also. Compare James 5:20 . 1 Peter 4:8 , and See 2 Corinthians 3:13-16 .

hid . Same verb.

to = in. Greek. en.

lost = perishing. Greek. apollumi. See 1 Corinthians 1:1 .

Verse 4

god . App-98 .

world = age. Greek. aion . App-129 . Compare John 12:31 ; John 14:30 ; John 16:11 ; where, however, world is kosmos ( App-129 .)

minds . Greek. noema . See 2 Corinthians 2:11 ,

them , &c. = the unbelieving. Greek. apistos. Compare App-150 .

lest , &c. = to (Greek. eie . App-104 .) the end that the light . . . should not (Greek. me as in 2 Corinthians 4:2 ).

light = illumination. Greek. photismos. App-130 . glorious

gospel = gospel (or good news) of the glory. Compare 1 Timothy 2:13; 1 Timothy 2:13 . See App-140 .

Christ = the Christ. App-98 .

image . See 2 Corinthians 3:18 . Co 2Co 1:1 , 2 Corinthians 1:15 .Hebrews 1:3 (charakter).

shine . Greek. augazo . Only here. Compare apaugasma, Hebrews 1:3 .

unto them. The texts omit,

Verse 5

preach . Greek. kerusso . App-121 .

Christ Jesus . App-9 .

the Lord = as Lord. App-96 . Compare Romans 10:9 .

servants . Greek doulos. App-190 .

for , &c. = on account of (Greek. dia App-104 ) Jesus ( App-98 ).

Verse 6

commanded. Literally spoke. Compare Genesis 1:3 .

light. Greek. phos. App-130 .

out of . Greek. ek , App-104 .

give the light = the illumination. Greek photismos, as in 2 Corinthians 4:4 .

knowledge . Greek. gnosis. App-132 .

Jesus Christ . App-98 . XL The texts omit "Jesus".

Verse 7

earthen . Greek. ostrakinos Only here and 2 Timothy 2:20 . From ostrakon, a potsherd. Compare App-94 . Treasure in the East is often hidden in the earth and in a potter's vessel to protect from damp, &c. Compare Jeremiah 32:14 .

that = Go order that. Greek. hina,

excellency . Greek. huperbole. Compare 2 Corinthians 12:7 (abundance).

power . Greek. dunamis. App-172 .

of = out of. Greek. eh. App-104 . It does not emanate from us. "of God" is the possessive case. The power net only emanates from God, but belongs to Him. Heoes not part with it.

Verse 8

troubled = afflicted, Greek. thlibo . See 2 Corinthians 1:6 .

on every side = in (Greek. en) every thing.

distressed . Greek. stenochoreomai, Only here and 2 Corinthians 6:12 , where it is translated "straitened". The Syriac rends "suffocated", referring probably to a wrestler who is compressed by his antagonist.

perplexed . Greek apareomai. Not knowing which way to turn. See Acts 25:20 .

in despair . Greek. exaporeomai . See 2 Corinthians 1:8 .

Verse 9

forsaken = abandoned. Greek. enkataleipo. See Acts 2:27 .

cast down . Greek. kataballo. Only here, Hebrews 6:1 .Revelation 12:10 .

destroyed . Greek. apollumi, as in 2 Corinthians 4:3 . Notice the four"note" in these two verses. Fig, Mesodiplosis . App-6 .

Verse 10

Always . App-151 . to. i.

bearing about . Greek. periphero. Mark 6:55 .Ephesians 4:14 , Hebrews 13:9 . Jude 1:12 .

dying. Greek. nekrosis. Only here and Romans 4:19 . It means the condition of a corpse. It was his constant experience. See next verse.

Lord. The texts omit,

life. Greek. zoe . App-170 .

made manifest . Greek. phaneroo. App-106 .

Verse 11

which live , Literally the living. Greek. zao. Compare App-170 .

alway . App-151 .

delivered. Greek. paredidomi. See John 19:30 .

unto . Greek. eis. App-104 .

mortal . Gr . thnetos. See Romans 6:12 .

Verse 12

worketh. Greek. energeo. See Romans 7:5 .

Verse 13

spirit . App-101 .

faith . App-160 . It is the Genitive of Apposition ( App-17 ) faith being the Spirit's gift. 1 Corinthians 12:9 .

according as , &c. = according to (Greek. kata . App-104 ) that which has been written.

believed . App-150 .

and. Omit,

have I spoken = I

spoke. Greek. laleo. App-121 .

and therefore speak = therefore we also speak.

Verse 14

Knowing . Greek. oida App-132 .

raised up . Greek. egeiro. App-178 .

Lord. App-98 .

by = through. Greek. dia, but the texts read "with", Greek. sun.

with . Greek. sun. App-104 .

Verse 15

for your sakes = on account of (Greek. dia. App-104 . 2 Corinthians 4:2 ) you.

abundant = abounding. Greek. pleonazo . See Romans 5:20

grace . Greek charis. App-184 .

through . Greek. eis. App-104 , 2 Corinthians 4:1 .

thanksgiving. Greek. eucharistia . See Acts 24:3 . Compare 2 Corinthians 1:11 .

many = the majority, es in 2 Corinthians 2:6 ,

redound = over flow, or excel. Greek. periaaseo

to. Greek. eis. App-104 .

Verse 16

For which cause = Therefore.

though = even if. App-118 .

outward (Greek. exo) man (Greek. anthropos, App-123 .) This expression Occurs only here. It is one of the rearms of the old nature. Compare Romans 6:6 . 1 Corinthians 2:14 .Ephesians 4:22; 2 Chronicles 3:92 Chronicles 3:9 .

perish = is corrupted or destroyed, Greek diaphtheire. Occurs elsewhere, Luke 12:33 , 1 Timothy 6:5 .Revelation 8:9 ; Revelation 11:1 .

inward . Greek. eadthen. In Romans 7:22 .Ephesians 3:16 , the word is eso .

renewed . Greek. anakainoo Only here and Colossians 3:10 .

Verse 17

our light , &c. Literally the momentary lightness of our affliction.

light. Greek. elaphros. Only here and Matthew 11:30 . Compare "lightness", 2 Corinthians 1:17 .

affliction. Greek. thlipsis as in 2 Corinthians 1:4 . Compare the verb, 2 Corinthians 4:8 .

for a moment . Greek. parautika. Only here.

worketh. Greek. katergazomai. To work out. See Romans 7:8 .

far more exceeding . Literally according to (Greek. kata . App-104 ,) excess unto (Greek. eis. App-104 .) excess. The Greek for "excess" is hyperbole, as in 2 Corinthians 4:7 .

eternal. Greek. aionios. App-161 . B, i.

weight . Greek. baros . See Acts 16:24 .

Verse 18

look . Greek. skopeo . See Luke 11:35 .

seen. Greek. blepo. App-133 .:6.

temporal = temporary, for a season. Greek. proskairos, Only here, Matthew 13:21 .Mark 4:17 . Hebrews 11:25 .