2 Corinthians 1:8
in 2 Corinthians 1We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
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:
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:
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 1
Commentary
12 notes on this verse"I die daily," (says he); that is, undoubtedly, in the perils of the body, in which "he even fought with beasts at Ephesus," -even with those beasts which caused him such peril and trouble in Asia, to which he alludes in his second epistle to the same church of Corinth: "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed above measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life."
This site's exposition
the hardships we encountered
on 2 Corinthians 1:8-9
Paul leaves unnamed the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia, a burden far beyond our ability to endure. Verse 9 names its purpose: under the sentence of death, Paul learned to trust in God, who raises the dead.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Paul wanted the Corinthians to know what evils he was enduring for the sake of their salvation. That way, they would not take it too badly if their own errors were admonished by people who were enduring such harsh treatment for their sake.
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 291 · Written before 458.
proposed
I think that Paul is referring here to the riot at Ephesus which was provoked by Demetrius the silversmith..
"For we would not, Brethren, have you ignorant concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia." "These things we speak," saith he, "that ye may not be ignorant of what befell us; for we wish, yea have earnestly endeavored, that ye should know our affairs:" which is a very high proof of love. Of this even in the former Epistle he had before given notice, where he said, "For a great door and effectual is opened to me at Ephesus, and there are many adversaries." Putting them then in mind of this, and recounting how much he suffered, he saith, "I would not have you ignorant of our affliction which befell us in Asia." And in his Epistle to the Ephesians too he said the same. For having sent Tychicus to them, he gives this as the reason of his journey: whence he saith, "But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things; whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts." And in other Epistles also he doeth the very same. Nor is it superfluous, but even exceedingly necessary: both because of his exceeding affection for the disciples, and because of their continued trials; wherein the knowledge of each other's fortunes was a very great comfort; so that if these were calamitous, they might be prepared both to be energetic and to be safer against falling; or if these were good, they might rejoice with them. He here, however, speaketh as well of being delivered from trials as of being assaulted by them, saying, "We were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power." Like a vessel sinking under some mighty burden. He may seem to have said, only one thing here "exceedingly" and "beyond our power:" it is, however, not one but two; for lest one should object, "What then? […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of the affliction we experienced in Asia, he wins their good will by mentioning certain specific things. And he does three things: first, he describes the persecution he suffered in Asia; …
Since he mentioned affliction indefinitely, he now explains what exactly the affliction was. Through this he also shows his love for them, for it is characteristic of love to reveal to others what has happened. At the same time he also presents an explanation for …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
We would not have you ignorant, brethren, of the trouble which befell us in Asia - Probably the same which is described in the nineteenth chapter of the Acts.
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble,....
It was convenient for the churches to know what were the sufferings of their ministers. It is not certain what particular troubles in Asia are here referred to; whether the tumult raised by Demetrius at Ephesus, mentioned Acts xix. , or the fight with beasts at Ephesus, mentioned in the former epistle ( ch. xv. ), or some other trouble; for the apostle was in deaths often.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
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, 1Co 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.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For we would not have you ignorant - We wish you to be fully informed; see the notes, 1Co 10:1; 1Co 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 2Co 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 2Co 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. […]
The words behind it
27 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Οὐ | ou | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| θέλομεν | thelomen | do we want | G2309 → | 208 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀγνοεῖν, | agnoein | to be ignorant | G50 → | 22 times |
| ἀδελφοί, | adelphoi | brothers, | G80 → | 343 times |
| ὑπὲρ | huper | as to | G5228 → | 155 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θλίψεως | thlipseos | affliction | G2347 → | 44 times |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | of us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γενομένης | genomenes | having happened | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἀσίᾳ | asia | Asia | G773 → | |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| καθ᾽ | kath᾽ | against | G2596 → | 468 times |
| ὑπερβολὴν | huperbolen | excessively | G5236 → | 8 times |
| ὑπὲρ | huper | beyond [our] | G5228 → | 155 times |
| δύναμιν | dunamin | power | G1411 → | 119 times |
| ἐβαρήθημεν | ebarethemen | we were weighed | G916 → | |
| ὥστε | hoste | so as | G5620 → | 83 times |
| ἐξαπορηθῆναι | exaporethenai | to despair | G1820 → | |
| ἡμᾶς | hemas | for us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ζῆν· | zen | to live; | G2198 → | 139 times |
ΟὐNot
ouG3756 →1664 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
θέλομενdo we want
thelomenG2309 →208 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἀγνοεῖν,to be ignorant
agnoeinG50 →22 times
ἀδελφοί,brothers,
adelphoiG80 →343 times
ὑπὲρas to
huperG5228 →155 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
θλίψεωςaffliction
thlipseosG2347 →44 times
ἡμῶνof us
hemonG3165 →1936 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
γενομένηςhaving happened
genomenesG1096 →667 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
ἈσίᾳAsia
asiaG773 →
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
καθ᾽against
kath᾽G2596 →468 times
ὑπερβολὴνexcessively
huperbolenG5236 →8 times
ὑπὲρbeyond [our]
huperG5228 →155 times
δύναμινpower
dunaminG1411 →119 times
ἐβαρήθημενwe were weighed
ebarethemenG916 →
ὥστεso as
hosteG5620 →83 times
ἐξαπορηθῆναιto despair
exaporethenaiG1820 →
ἡμᾶςfor us
hemasG3165 →1936 times
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
ζῆν·to live;
zenG2198 →139 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 16:9because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 2:12
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,
- 2 Corinthians 1:8–10
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 14:27
When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
- Colossians 4:3
as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
- Revelation 3:7–8
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut,…
- 2 Corinthians 2:12
Through
1 Corinthians 15:32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 22:13
But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
- Isaiah 56:12
“Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”
- Luke 12:19
Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
- Isaiah 22:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies8
On this verse
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 2 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 291; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.