Bible Commentaries
2 Corinthians 4

Verse 1

As we have received mercy. Construe with we have this ministry. Having this ministry as a gift of divine mercy. Compare 1 Corinthians 7:25. Bengel says : "The mercy of God, by which the ministry is received, makes us earnest and sincere."

Verse 2

Dishonesty [της αισχυνης] . Rev., more correctly, shame. Compare Ephesians 5:12.

Craftiness [πανουργια] . See on Luke 20:23.

Handling deceitfully [δολουντες] . Only here in the New Testament. Primarily, to ensnare; then to corrupt. Used of adulterating gold, wine, etc. See on which corrupt, ch. 2 17. This verb has a narrower meaning than the one used there [καπηλευειν] ; for, while that means also to corrupt, it adds the sense for gain 's sake. The Vulgate renders both by the same word, adulterantes. Compare Dante :

"Thus did Sabellius, Arias, and those fools Who have been even as swords unto the Scriptures In rendering distorted their straight faces." " Paradiso, " 13, 128 - 130.

Verse 3

Hid [κεκαλυμμενον] . Rev., veiled, in accordance with the imagery of ch. 3.

Verse 4

The God of this world [ο θεος του αιωνος τουτου] . The phrase occurs only here. Compare Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:12; John 12:31; John 14:30. Satan is called God in the rabbinical writings.

"The first God is the true God; but the second God is Samuel." " The matron said, 'Our God is greater than thy God; for when thy God appeared to Moses in the bush, he hid his face; when, however, he saw the serpent, which is my God, he fled. " ' The light [τον φωτισμον] . Only here and ver. 6. Lit., the illumination, act of enlightening.

Image of God. Compare Colossians 1:15; John 17:5; Philippians 2:6; Philippians 3:21. Christ 's light is also God 's. Compare Hebrews 1:3, Rev., effulgence (ajpaugasma, compare aujgasai shine, in this passage). Theodoret says : "The effulgence is both from the fire and with the fire, and has the fire as its cause, yet is not divided from the fire; for whence comes the fire, thence also comes the effulgence."

Shine [αυγασαι] . Only here in the New Testament. From aujgh brightness, which also occurs but once, Acts 20:11, daybreak. In classical Greek of the sun especially. Rev., dawn is legitimate as a translation, but hardly here, since Paul is going back to the figure of ch. 3 18.

Verse 6

Who commanded the light to shine [ο ειπων φως λαμψαι] . The correct reading is lamyei shall shine; so that we should render, it is God that said light shall shine. So Rev.

To give the light of the knowledge [προς φωτισμον της γνωσεως] . Lit., for the illumination, as ver. 4. In order that the knowledge may lighten. Knowledge, if not diffused, is not of the nature of light.

In the face of Jesus Christ. Containing the thought of ch. 3 18. The knowledge of the divine glory becomes clear revelation to men in the face of Christ as it appears in the Gospel : "So that in this seen countenance that clear - shining knowledge has the source of its light, as it were, its focus" (Meyer). 144

Verse 7

This treasure. The divine light which is the guide and inspiration of the apostolic ministry.

In earthen vessels [εν οστρακινοις σκευεσιν] . The adjective occurs only here and 2 Timothy 2:10. Herodotus says of the king of Persia : "The great king stores away the tribute which he receives after this fashion : he melts it down, and, while it is in a liquid state, runs it into earthen vessels, which are afterward removed, leaving the metal in a solid mass" (iii., 96). Stanley cites the story of a Rabbi who was taunted with his mean appearance by the emperor 's daughter, and who replied by referring to the earthen vessels in which her father kept his wines. At her request the wine was shifted to silver vessels, whereupon it turned sour. Then the Rabbi observed that the humblest vessels contained the highest wisdom. The idea of light in earthen vessels is, however, best illustrated in the story of the lambs and pitchers of Gideon, Jude 1:7:16. In the very breaking of the vessel the light is revealed.

Excellency [υπερβολη] . Lit., a throwing beyond. Hence preeminence, excellence. See on exceeding, Romans 7:13. Rev. renders exceeding greatness. The reference is to the fullness of power apparent in the apostolic ministry.

Of God - of us [του θεου - εξ ημων] . The A. V. misses the difference between the two expressions. Of God is belonging to God; God 's property : from [εξ] is proceeding from ourselves. Rev., of God - from ourselves.

Verse 8

Troubled [θλιβομενοι] . See on tribulation, Matthew 13:21. The verb also has the meaning of to straiten, contract, as Matthew 7:14, where teqlimmenh, A. V. narrow, is properly rendered by Rev. straitened. Distressed [στενοχωρουμενοι] . Only here and ch. 6 12. From stenov narrow, and cwrov a space. Hence cramped. The A. V. gives no suggestion of the figurative paradox. We are pressed closely, yet not cramped. Rev., pressed on every side, yet not straitened.

Perplexed [απορουμενοι] . From aj not, and porov a passage. Lit., to be unable to find a way out.

In despair [εξαπορουμενοι] . Rev., very neatly, rendered unto despair. The word expresses an advance of thought on perplexed, yet on the same line. We are perplexed, but not utterly perplexed. The play between the Greek words cannot be rendered.

Verse 9

Persecuted - forsaken [διωκομενοι - εγκαταλειπομενοι] . Rev., for persecuted, pursued, the primary meaning of the verb, thus giving vividness to the figure. Forsaken, lit., left behind in (some evil plight). The figure is, pursued by enemies, but not left to their power : left in the lurch. Cast down - destroyed [καταβαλλομενοι - απολλυμενοι] . This carries on the previous figure. Though the pursuers overtake and smite down, yet are we not killed. Rev., smitten down. In all these paradoxes the A. V. fails to bring out the metaphors.

Verse 10

Bearing about. Ignatius, addressing the Ephesians, says : "Ye are God - bearers, shrine - bearers, Christ - bearers" (" Epistle to Ephesians, "9.). In the Antiochene Acts, Trajan alludes to Ignatius as" the one who declares that he bears about the crucified. " Ignatius was known as Qeoforov God bearer, and so styles himself in the introductions of his epistles.

Dying [νεκρωσιν] . Only here and Romans 4:19. Primarily a putting to death, and thence the state of deadness, as Romans 4:19. Here in the former sense. Paul says, in effect, "our body is constantly exposed to the same putting to death which Jesus suffered. The daily liability to a violent death is something, which we carry about with us." Compare 1 Corinthians 14:31; Romans 8:36. This parallel with Christ 's death is offset by the parallel with Christ 's triumph - life through resurrection.

That the life also [ινα] . In order that. The purport, according to God 's purpose, of this daily dying is to set forth the resurrection - life through Christ in us. Compare Romans 5:10.

Verse 13

The same spirit of faith. The same, namely, which is set forth in the following passage. Spirit of faith : not distinctly the Holy Spirit, nor, on the other hand, a human faculty or disposition, but blending both; faith as a gift of the Spirit of God. See on Spirit, Romans 8:4, sec. 5. I believed, etc. Cited from Sept., Psalms 115:10. The Septuagint mistranslates the Hebrew, which is, "I believed though I said," etc.

Verse 15

The abundant grace [η χαρις πλεονασασα] . Lit., the grace having abounded. Rev., the grace being multiplied. Grace is the divine gift of spiritual energy which is shown in the labor, suffering, and triumph of the apostles.

Might through the thanksgiving of many redound [δια των πλειονων την ευχαριστιαν περισσευση] . Numerous arrangements of these words are proposed. Through [δια] should govern the many, not thanksgiving; and redound should be transitive, cause to abound, and governing thanksgiving. So Rev., the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound. The thought is on the line of ver. 12, that the sufferings and risks of the apostles promote spiritual life in the Church. The grace of God, thus manifest in the apostles, shall be multiplied through the increasing number of those who share it, and shall thus make thanksgiving more abundant for the fruits of this grace as exhibited in the apostles and in the Church.

Redound (A. V.) is from the Latin redundare to surge back. Therefore, primarily, of a fullness or overflow from the setting back of a tide. So Milton :

"The evil, soon Driven back, redounded as a flood on those From whom it sprang."

Generally, to abound. From this arises the secondary sense, to conduce, contribute to; that is, to make the causes mount up, or abound, so as to produce the effect. So Addison : "The care of our national commerce redounds more to the riches and prosperity of the public," etc.

Verse 16

Outward man - inward man. The material and spiritual natures.

Perish [διαφθειρεται] . Rev., much better, is decaying. Perish implies destruction : the idea is that of progressive decay.

Is renewed [ανακαινουται] . Better, is being renewed, the process of renewal going on along with the process of decay. Stanley cites a line attributed to Michael Angelo : "The more the marble wastes the more the statue grows." Compare Euripides : "Time does not depress your spirit, but it grows young again : your body, however, is weak" (" Heraclidae, " 702, 703)

Day by day [ημερα και ημερα] . Lit., by day and day. A Hebrew form of expression.

Verse 17

Our light affliction which is but for a moment [το παραυτικα ελαφρον της θλιψεως ημων] . Lit., the present light (burden) of our affliction.

Worketh [κατεργαζεται] . Works out : achieves.

A far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory [καθ υπερεβολην εις υπερβολην αιωνιον βαρος δοξης] . Rev., more and more exceedingly an eternal weight, etc. An expression after the form of Hebrew superlatives, in which the emphatic word is twice repeated. Lit., exceedingly unto excess. The use of such cumulative expressions is common with Paul. See, for example, Philippians 1:23, lit., much more better; Romans 8:37, abundantly the conquerors; Ephesians 3:20, exceeding abundantly, etc. Note how the words are offset : for a moment, eternal; light, weight; affliction, glory.

Verse 18

Seen - not seen. Compare the beautiful passage in Plato's "Phaedo," 79.