2 Corinthians 1:8

2 Corinthians 1:8 in other versions

• King James Version (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:
• New International Version (NIV)We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.

Context of 2 Corinthians 1:8

6But if we are troubled and distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted and encouraged, it is for your comfort, which works [in you] when you patiently endure the same sufferings which we experience. 7And our hope for you [our confident expectation of good for you] is firmly grounded [assured and unshaken], since we know that just as you share as partners in our sufferings, so also you share as partners in our comfort. For we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about our trouble in [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor], how we were utterly weighed down, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life [itself]. 9Indeed, we felt within ourselves that we had received the sentence of death [and were convinced that we would die, but this happened] so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. 10He rescued us from so great a threat of death, and will continue to rescue us. On Him we have set our hope. And He will again rescue us [from danger and draw us near],

2 Corinthians 1:8 word by word

Οὐ γὰρ θέλομεν ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, ὑπὲρ τῆς θλίψεως ἡμῶν τῆς γενομένης ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ ὅτι καθ᾽ ὑπερβολὴν ὑπὲρ δύναμιν ἐβαρήθημεν ὥστε ἐξαπορηθῆναι ἡμᾶς καὶ τοῦ ζῆν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• we wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• notοὐou · noG3756
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• haveἀγνοέωagnoeō · be ignorantG50
• youσύsu · youG4771
• ofὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• troubleὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• troubleθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
• which cameγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• AsiaἈσίαAsia · AsiaG773
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• we were pressedβαρέωbareō · to burdenG916
• outκατάkata · according toG2596
• of measureὑπερβολήhuperbolē · surpassingG5236
• strengthδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
• insomuch thatὥστεhōste · soG5620
• despairedἐξαπορέωexaporeomai · to despairG1820
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• of lifeζάωzaō · to liveG2198

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 1:8

• 2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves.
• Acts 19:23About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way (Jesus, Christianity).
• 1 Corinthians 15:32What good has it done me if, [merely] from a human point of view, I fought with wild animals at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised [at all], let us eat and drink [enjoying ourselves now], for tomorrow we die.
• 1 Corinthians 16:9because a wide door for effective service has opened to me [in Ephesus, a very promising opportunity], and there are many adversaries.
• 1 Corinthians 4:8[You behave as if] you are already filled [with spiritual wisdom and in need of nothing more]. Already you have become rich [in spiritual gifts]! You [in your conceit] have ascended your thrones and become kings without us; and how I wish [that it were true and] that you did reign as kings, so that we might reign with you.
• 1 Samuel 20:3But David vowed again, saying “Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your sight, and he has said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be worried.’ But truly as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is hardly a step between me and death.”
• 1 Samuel 27:1But David said in his heart, “Now I will die one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me inside the borders of Israel, and I will escape from his hand [once and for all].”

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 1:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Our 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, Acts 20:3; others, to the insurrection raised against him by Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen, Acts 19:23; others, to his fighting with beasts at Ephesus, 1 Corinthians 15:32, which they understand literally; and others think that there is a reference here to some persecution which is not recorded in…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8For we would not have you ignorant - We wish you to be fully informed; see the notes, 1 Corinthians 10:1; 1 Corinthians 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 2 Corinthians 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-11dear brothers: The Greek word adelphoi is a traditional term of affection for family members, both male and female. the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia: The trouble faced in the province of Asia is hard to pinpoint. One suggestion is the riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:23–41). Another is that Paul was tried in a civil court and faced possible execution in Ephesus (2 Corinthians 1:9; see 1 Corinthians 15:32). It is less likely that he suffered a…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-98-9. Referring to the imminent risk of life which he ran in Ephesus (Ac 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 (2Co 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…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 1:8

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Paul

In the dictionaries

• Asia
• Call
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Despair
• Fleshly
• Testimony
• Wisdom
• Yea
• Commentaries
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings