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Selected Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:8 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
2Co 1:8	Strong Concordance	For [1063] we would [2309] not [3756], brethren [80], have [50] you [5209] ignorant [50] of [5228] our [2257] trouble [2347] which [3588] came [1096] to us [2254] in [1722] Asia [773], that [3754] we were pressed [2596] out [916] of measure [5236], above [5228] strength [1411], insomuch [5620] that we [2248] despaired [1820] even [2532] of life [2198]:
	King James	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:

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Referring to the imminent risk of life which he ran in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41) when the whole multitude were wrought up to fury by Demetrius, on the plea of Paul and his associates having assailed the religion of Diana of Ephesus. The words (Co2 1:9), "we had the sentence of death in ourselves," mean, that he looked upon himself as a man condemned to die [PALEY]. ALFORD thinks the danger at Ephesus was comparatively so slight that it cannot be supposed to be the subject of reference here, without exposing the apostle to a charge of cowardice, very unlike his fearless character; hence, he supposes Paul refers to some deadly sickness which he had suffered under (Co2 1:9-10). But there is little doubt that, had Paul been found by the mob in the excitement, he would have been torn in pieces; and probably, besides what Luke in Acts records, there were other dangers of an equally distressing kind, such as, "lyings in wait of the Jews" (Act 20:19), his ceaseless foes. They, doubtless, had incited the multitude at Ephesus (Act 19:9), and were the chief of the "many adversaries" and "[wild] beasts," which he had to fight with there (Co1 15:32; Co1 16:9). His weak state of health at the time combined with all this to make him regard himself as all but dead (Co2 11:29; Co2 12:10). What makes my supposition probable is, that the very cause of his not having visited Corinth directly as he had intended, and for which he proceeds to apologize (Co2 1:15-23), was, that there might be time to see whether the evils arising there not only from Greek, but from Jewish disturbers of the Church (Co2 11:29), would be checked by his first Epistle; there not being fully so was what entailed on him the need of writing this second Epistle. His not specifying this here expressly is just what we might expect in the outset of this letter; towards the close, when he had won their favorable hearing by a kindly and firm tone, he gives a more distinct reference to Jewish agitators (Co2 11:22). above strength--that is, ordinary, natural powers of endurance. despaired--as far as human help or hope from man was concerned. But in respect to help from God we were "not in despair" (Co2 4:8).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Referring to the imminent risk of life which he ran in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41) when the whole multitude were wrought up to fury by Demetrius, on the plea of Paul and his associates having assailed the religion of Diana of Ephesus. The words (Co2 1:9), "we had the sentence of death in ourselves," mean, that he looked upon himself as a man condemned to die [PALEY]. ALFORD thinks the danger at Ephesus was comparatively so slight that it cannot be supposed to be the subject of reference here, without exposing the apostle to a charge of cowardice, very unlike his fearless character; hence, he supposes Paul refers to some deadly sickness which he had suffered under (Co2 1:9-10). But there is little doubt that, had Paul been found by the mob in the excitement, he would have been torn in pieces; and probably, besides what Luke in Acts records, there were other dangers of an equally distressing kind, such as, "lyings in wait of the Jews" (Act 20:19), his ceaseless foes. They, doubtless, had incited the multitude at Ephesus (Act 19:9), and were the chief of the "many adversaries" and "[wild] beasts," which he had to fight with there (Co1 15:32; Co1 16:9). His weak state of health at the time combined with all this to make him regard himself as all but dead (Co2 11:29; Co2 12:10). What makes my supposition probable is, that the very cause of his not having visited Corinth directly as he had intended, and for which he proceeds to apologize (Co2 1:15-23), was, that there might be time to see whether the evils arising there not only from Greek, but from Jewish disturbers of the Church (Co2 11:29), would be checked by his first Epistle; there not being fully so was what entailed on him the need of writing this second Epistle. His not specifying this here expressly is just what we might expect in the outset of this letter; towards the close, when he had won their favorable hearing by a kindly and firm tone, he gives a more distinct reference to Jewish agitators (Co2 11:22).

above strength--that is, ordinary, natural powers of endurance.

despaired--as far as human help or hope from man was concerned. But in respect to help from God we were "not in despair" (Co2 4:8).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For we would not have you ignorant - We wish you to be fully informed; see the notes, Co1 10:1; Co1 12:1. The object of Paul here is, to give a full explanation of the nature of his trials, to which he had referred in Co2 1:4. He presumed that the Corinthians would feel a deep interest in him and in his trials; that they would sympathize with him, and would pray that those sufferings, and that this deliverance might be attended with a blessing Co2 1:11; and perhaps he wished also to conciliate their kindness toward himself by mentioning more at length the nature of the trials which he had been called to endure on account of the Christian religion, of which they were reaping so material benefits. Of our trouble which came to us in Asia - The term "Asia" is often used to denote that part of Asia Minor of which Ephesus was the capital; see the note, Act 2:9. There has been considerable diversity of opinion as to the "troubles" to which Paul here refers. Some have supposed that he refers to the persecutions at Lystra Act 14:6, Act 14:19-20, from which he had been recovered as it were by miracle; but as that happened so long before this, it seems improbable that he should here refer to it. There is every mark of freshness and recentness about this event; and Paul evidently referred to some danger from which he had been lately delivered, and which made a deep impression on his mind when he wrote this Epistle. Semler supposes that he refers to the lying in wait of the Jews for him when he was about to go to Macedonia, mentioned in Act 20:3. Most commentators have supposed that be refers to the disturbances which were made at Ephesus by Demetrius and his friends, mentioned in Acts 19, and by reason of which he was compelled to leave the city. The only objection to this is, that which is mentioned by Whitby and Macknight, that as Paul did not go into the theater there Act 19:31, he incurred no such risk of his life as to justify the strong expressions mentioned in Co2 1:9-10. They suppose, therefore, that he refers to the danger to which he was exposed in Ephesus on another occasion, when he was compelled to fight there with wild beasts; see Co1 15:32. But nearly all these opinions may be reconciled, perhaps, by supposing that he refers to the group of calamities to which he had been exposed in Asia, and from which he had just escaped by going to Macedonia - referring perhaps more particularly to the conflict which he had been compelled to have with the wild beasts there. There was the riot excited by Demetrius Acts 19, in which his life had been endangered, and from which he had just escaped; and there had been the conflict with the wild beasts at Ephesus (see the note, Co1 15:32), which perhaps had occurred but just before; and there were the plots of the Jews against him Act 20:3, from which, also, he had just been delivered. By these trials, his life had been endangered, perhaps, more than once, and he had been called to look death calmly in the face, and to anticipate the probability that he might soon die. Of these trials; of all these trials, he would not have the Corinthians ignorant; but desired that they should be fully apprized of them, that they might sympathize with him, and that through their prayers they might be turned to his benefit. That we were pressed out of measure - see Acts 19. We were borne down, or weighed down by calamity (ἐβαρηθεμεν ebarēthemen) exceedingly καθ ̓ ὑπερβολὴς kath' huperbolēs, supereminently. The expression denotes excess, eminence, or intensity. It is one of Paul's common and very strong expressions to denote anything that is intensive or great; see Rom 7:13; Gal 1:13; Co2 4:17. Above strength - Beyond our strength. More than in ourselves we were able to bear. Insomuch that we despaired even of life - Either expecting to be destroyed by the wild beasts with which he had to contend, or to be destroyed by the people. This was one of the instances undoubtedly, to which he refers in Co2 11:23, where he says he had been "in death oft." And this was one of the many cases in which Paul was called on to contemplate death as near. It was doubtless one cause of his fidelity, and of his great success in his work, that he was thus called to regard death as near at hand, and that, to use the somewhat unpoetical, but deeply affecting lines of Baxter, expressing a sentiment which guided all his ministry, and which was one source of his eminent success, He preach'd as though he ne'er would preach again, As a dying man to dying men.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
We would not have you ignorant See on Rom 1:13. 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. Were pressed out of measure (καθ' ὑπερβολὴν ἐβαρήθημεν) Rev., better, were weighed down, thus giving the etymological force of the verb, from βάρος burden. For out of measure, Rev, exceedingly; see on Co1 2:1. We despaired (ἐξαπορηθῆναι) Only here and Co2 4:8. From ἐξ out and out, and ἀπορέω to be without a way of escape. See on did many things, Mar 6:20.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
We would not have you ignorant, brethren, of the trouble which befell us in Asia - Probably the same which is described in Acts 19. The Corinthians knew before that he had been in trouble: he now declares the greatness and the fruit of it. We were exceedingly pressed, above our strength - Above the ordinary strength even of an apostle.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Our trouble which came to us in Asia - To what part of his history the apostle refers we know not: some think it is to the Jews lying in wait to kill him, Act 20:3; others, to the insurrection raised against him by Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen, Act 19:23; others, to his fighting with beasts at Ephesus, Co1 15:32, which they understand literally; and others think that there is a reference here to some persecution which is not recorded in any part of the apostle's history. We were pressed out of measure, above strength - The original is exceedingly emphatic: καθ' ὑπερβολην εβαρηθημεν ὑπερ δυναμιν· we were weighed down beyond what is credible, even beyond what any natural strength could support. There is no part of St. Paul's history known to us which can justify these strong expressions, except his being stoned at Lystra; which if not what is here intended, the facts to which he refers are not on record. As Lystra was properly in Asia, unless he mean Asia Minor, and his stoning at Lystra did most evidently destroy his life, so that his being raised was an effect of the miraculous power of God; he might be supposed to refer to this. See the notes on Act 14:19, etc. But it is very likely that the reference is to some terrible persecution which he had endured some short time before his writing this epistle; and with the outlines of which the Corinthians had been acquainted.

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⁸ We are troubled [2346] on [1722] every side [3956], yet [235] not [3756] distressed [4729]; we are perplexed [639], but [235] not [3756] in despair [1820];

²² Are they [1526] Hebrews [1445]? so am I [2504]. Are they [1526] Israelites [2475]? so am I [2504]. Are they [1526] the seed [4690] of Abraham [11]? so am I [2504].

²⁹ Who [5101] is weak [770], and [2532] I am [770] not [3756] weak [770]? who [5101] is offended [4624], and [2532] I [1473] burn [4448] not [3756]?

¹⁵ And [2532] in this [5026] confidence [4006] I was minded [1014] to come [2064] unto [4314] you [5209] before [4386], that [2443] ye might have [2192] a second [1208] benefit [5485];
¹⁶ And [2532] to pass [1330] by [1223] you [5216] into [1519] Macedonia [3109], and [2532] to come [2064] again [3825] out of [575] Macedonia [3109] unto [4314] you [5209], and [2532] of [5259] you [5216] to be brought on my way [4311] toward [1519] Judaea [2449].
¹⁷ When I [1011] therefore [3767] was [1011] thus [5124] minded [1011], did I use [3385] [686] [5530] lightness [1644]? or [2228] the things that [3739] I purpose [1011], do I purpose [1011] according [2596] to the flesh [4561], that [2443] with [3844] me [1698] there should be [5600] yea [3483] yea [3483], and [2532] nay [3756] nay [3756]?
¹⁸ But [1161] as God [2316] is true [4103], [3754] our [2257] word [3056] toward [4314] you [5209] was [1096] not [3756] yea [3483] and [2532] nay [3756].
¹⁹ For [1063] the Son [5207] of God [2316], Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], who [3588] was preached [2784] among [1722] you [5213] by [1223] us [2257], even by [1223] me [1700] and [2532] Silvanus [4610] and [2532] Timotheus [5095], was [1096] not [3756] yea [3483] and [2532] nay [3756], but [235] in [1722] him [846] was [1096] yea [3483].
²⁰ For [1063] all [3745] the promises [1860] of God [2316] in [1722] him [846] are yea [3483], and [2532] in [1722] him [846] Amen [281], unto [4314] the glory [1391] of God [2316] by [1223] us [2257].
²¹ Now [1161] he which stablisheth [950] us [2248] with [4862] you [5213] in [1519] Christ [5547], and [2532] hath anointed [5548] us [2248], is God [2316];
²² Who [3588] hath [4972] also [2532] sealed [4972] us [2248], and [2532] given [1325] the earnest [728] of the Spirit [4151] in [1722] our [2257] hearts [2588].
²³ Moreover [1161] I [1473] call [1941] God [2316] for a record [3144] upon [1909] my [1699] soul [5590], that [3754] to spare [5339] you [5216] I came [2064] not as yet [3765] unto [1519] Corinth [2882].

¹⁰ Therefore [1352] I take pleasure [2106] in [1722] infirmities [769], in [1722] reproaches [5196], in [1722] necessities [318], in [1722] persecutions [1375], in [1722] distresses [4730] for [5228] Christ's [5547] sake [5228]: for [1063] when [3752] I am weak [770], then [5119] am [1510] I strong [1415].

²⁹ Who [5101] is weak [770], and [2532] I am [770] not [3756] weak [770]? who [5101] is offended [4624], and [2532] I [1473] burn [4448] not [3756]?

⁹ For [1063] a great [3173] door [2374] and [2532] effectual [1756] is opened [455] unto me [3427], and [2532] there are many [4183] adversaries [480].

³² If [1487] after the manner [2596] of men [444] I have fought with beasts [2341] at [1722] Ephesus [2181], what [5101] advantageth it [3786] me [3427], if [1487] the dead [3498] rise [1453] not [3756]? let us eat [5315] and [2532] drink [4095]; for [1063] to morrow [839] we die [599].

⁹ But [1161] when [5613] divers [5100] were hardened [4645], and [2532] believed not [544], but spake evil [2551] of that way [3598] before [1799] the multitude [4128], he departed [868] from [575] them [846], and separated [873] the disciples [3101], disputing [1256] daily [2596] [2250] in [1722] the school [4981] of one [5100] Tyrannus [5181].

¹⁹ Serving [1398] the Lord [2962] with [3326] all [3956] humility of mind [5012], and [2532] with many [4183] tears [1144], and [2532] temptations [3986], which [3588] befell [4819] me [3427] by [1722] the lying in wait [1917] of the Jews [2453]:

⁹ But [235] [846] we had [2192] the sentence [610] of death [2288] in [1722] ourselves [1438], that [3363] we should [3982] not [3363] trust [3982] in [1909] ourselves [1438] [5600], but [235] in [1909] God [2316] which [3588] raiseth [1453] the dead [3498]:
¹⁰ Who [3739] delivered [4506] us [2248] from [1537] so great [5082] a death [2288], and [2532] doth deliver [4506]: in [1519] whom [3739] we trust [1679] that [3754] he will [4506] [2532] yet [2089] deliver [4506] us;

²³ Are they [1526] ministers [1249] of Christ [5547]? (I speak [2980] as a fool [3912] I [1473] am more [5228]; in [1722] labours [2873] more abundant [4056], in [1722] stripes [4127] above measure [5234], in [1722] prisons [5438] more frequent [4056], in [1722] deaths [2288] oft [4178].

¹⁷ For [1063] our [2257] light [1645] affliction [2347], which [3588] is but for a moment [3910], worketh [2716] for us [2254] a far [2596] [5236] more exceeding [1519] [5236] and eternal [166] weight [922] of glory [1391];

¹³ For [1063] ye have heard [191] of my [1699] conversation [391] in time past [4218] in [1722] the Jews' religion [2454], how that [3754] beyond [2596] measure [5236] I persecuted [1377] the church [1577] of God [2316], and [2532] wasted [4199] it [846]:

¹³ Was then [3767] that which is good [18] made [1096] death [2288] unto me [1698]? God forbid [3361] [1096]. But [235] sin [266], that [2443] it might appear [5316] sin [266], working [2716] death [2288] in me [3427] by [1223] that which is good [18]; that [2443] sin [266] by [1223] the commandment [1785] might become [1096] exceeding [2596] [5236] sinful [268].

³ And [5037] there abode [4160] three [5140] months [3376]. And when the Jews [5259] [2453] laid [1096] wait [1917] for him [846], as he was about [3195] to sail [321] into [1519] Syria [4947], he purposed [1096] [1106] to return [5290] through [1223] Macedonia [3109].

³¹ And [1161] [2532] certain [5100] of the chief of Asia [775], which were [5607] his [846] friends [5384], sent [3992] unto [4314] him [846], desiring [3870] him that he would [1325] not [3361] adventure [1325] himself [1438] into [1519] the theatre [2302].

¹⁹ And [1161] there came thither [1904] certain Jews [2453] from [575] Antioch [490] and [2532] Iconium [2430], who [2532] persuaded [3982] the people [3793], and [2532], having stoned [3034] Paul [3972], drew [4951] him out of [1854] the city [4172], supposing [3543] he [846] had been dead [2348].
²⁰ Howbeit [1161], as the disciples [3101] stood round about [2944] him [846], he rose up [450], and came [1525] into [1519] the city [4172]: and [2532] the next day [1887] he departed [1831] with [4862] Barnabas [921] to [1519] Derbe [1191].

⁶ They were ware [4894] of it, and fled [2703] unto [1519] Lystra [3082] and [2532] Derbe [1191], cities [4172] of Lycaonia [3071], and [2532] unto the region that lieth round about [4066]:

⁹ Parthians [3934], and [2532] Medes [3370], and [2532] Elamites [1639], and [2532] the dwellers [2730] in Mesopotamia [3318], and [5037] in Judaea [2449], and [2532] Cappadocia [2587], in Pontus [4195], and [2532] Asia [773],

¹¹ Ye [5216] also [2532] helping together [4943] by prayer [1162] for [5228] us [2257], that [2443] for the gift [5486] bestowed upon [1519] us [2248] by [1537] the means of many [4183] persons [4383] thanks may be [2168] given [5228] by [1223] many [4183] on our behalf [2257].

⁴ Who [3588] comforteth [3870] us [2248] in [1909] all [3956] our [2257] tribulation [2347], that [1519] we [2248] may be able [1410] to comfort [3870] them which are in [1722] any [3956] trouble [2347], by [1223] the comfort [3874] wherewith [3739] we [3870] ourselves [846] are comforted [3870] of [5259] God [2316].

¹ Now [1161] concerning [4012] spiritual [4152] gifts, brethren [80], I would [2309] not [3756] have [2309] you [5209] ignorant [50].

¹ Moreover [1161], brethren [80], I would [2309] not [3756] that ye [5209] should be ignorant [50], how that [3754] all [3956] our [2257] fathers [3962] were [2258] under [5259] the cloud [3507], and [2532] all [3956] passed [1330] through [1223] the sea [2281];

²⁰ For [1063] Herod [2264] feared [5399] John [2491], knowing [1492] that he [846] was a just [1342] man [435] and [2532] an holy [40], and [2532] observed [4933] him [846]; and [2532] when he heard [191] him [846], he did [4160] many things [4183], and [2532] heard [191] him [846] gladly [2234].

⁸ We are troubled [2346] on [1722] every side [3956], yet [235] not [3756] distressed [4729]; we are perplexed [639], but [235] not [3756] in despair [1820];

¹ And I [2504], brethren [80], when I came [2064] to [4314] you [5209], came [2064] not [3756] with [2596] excellency [5247] of speech [3056] or [2228] of wisdom [4678], declaring [2605] unto you [5213] the testimony [3142] of God [2316].

¹³ Now [1161] I would [2309] not [3756] have [50] you [5209] ignorant [50], brethren [80], that [3754] oftentimes [4178] I purposed [4388] to come [2064] unto [4314] you [5209], (but [2532] was let [2967] hitherto [891] [1204],) that [2443] I might have [2192] some [5100] fruit [2590] among [1722] you [5213] also [2532], even as [2531] [2532] among [1722] other [3062] Gentiles [1484].

²³ And [1161] [2596] the same [1565] time [2540] there arose [1096] no [3756] small [3641] stir [5017] about [4012] that way [3598].