2 Corinthians 1:9

2 Corinthians 1:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
• New International Version (NIV)Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

Context of 2 Corinthians 1:9

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. 8For 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]. Indeed, 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], 11while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then thanks will be given by many persons on our behalf for the gracious gift [of deliverance] granted to us through the prayers of many [believers].

2 Corinthians 1:9 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς τὸ ἀπόκριμα τοῦ θανάτου ἐσχήκαμεν, ἵνα μὴ πεποιθότες ὦμεν ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτοῖς ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ τῷ ἐγείροντι τοὺς νεκρούς·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butἀλλάalla · butG235
• weαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• the sentenceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the sentenceἀπόκριμαapokrima · verdictG610
• of deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• ourselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• we shouldεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notμήmē · notG3361
• trustπείθωpeithō · to persuadeG3982
• inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• raisethἐγείρωegeirō · to ariseG1453
• the deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 1:9

• 2 Corinthians 3:5Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God.
• 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.
• 2 Corinthians 12:7Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself!
• Job 40:14[If you can do all this, Job, proving your divine power] then I [God] will also praise you and acknowledge That your own right hand can save you.
• Psalms 22:29All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship; All those who go down to the dust (the dead) will bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
• Psalms 44:5Through You we will gore our enemies [like a bull]; Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us.
• Proverbs 28:26He who trusts confidently in his own heart is a [dull, thickheaded] fool, But he who walks in [skillful and godly] wisdom will be rescued.
• Jeremiah 9:23Thus says the Lord, “Let not the one who is wise and skillful boast in his insight; let not the one who is mighty and powerful boast in his strength; let not the one who is rich boast in his [temporal satisfactions and earthly] abundance;
• Jeremiah 17:5Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in and relies on mankind, Making [weak, faulty human] flesh his strength, And whose mind and heart turn away from the Lord.
• Ezekiel 33:13When I say to the righteous that he will most certainly live, and he trusts in his [previous acts of] righteousness [to save him] and commits injustice, none of his righteous deeds will be remembered; but he will die for his injustice that he committed.
• Luke 18:9He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves and were confident that they were righteous [posing outwardly as upright and in right standing with God], and who viewed others with contempt:
• 2 Corinthians 4:13Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had, who wrote in Scripture, “I believed, therefore I spoke.” We also believe, therefore we also speak,
• Ezekiel 37:1The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.
• Romans 4:17(as it is written [in Scripture], “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the sight of Him in whom he believed, that is, God who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
• Hebrews 11:19For he considered [it reasonable to believe] that God was able to raise Isaac even from among the dead. [Indeed, in the sense that he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God] Abraham did receive him back [from the dead] figuratively speaking.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 1:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9We had the sentence of death in ourselves - The tribulation was so violent and overwhelming, that he had no hope of escaping death. That we should not trust in ourselves - The tribulation was of such a nature as to take away all expectation of help but from God alone. But in God which raiseth the dead - This is very like the business at Lystra; and would be sufficient to fix the apostle's reference to that fact could the time and other circumstances serve.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9But we had the sentence of death in ourselves - Margin, “answer.” The word rendered “sentence” ( ̓́ apokrima) means properly an answer, judicial response, or sentence; and is here synonymous with verdict. It means that Paul felt that he was condemned to die; that he felt as if he were under sentence of death and with no hope of acquittal; he was called to contemplate the hour of death as just before him. The words “in ourselves,” mean, against ourselves…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 1:9

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Confidence
• Death
• False Confidence
• Paul
• Prayer
• Self-Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Call
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Despair
• Fleshly
• Testimony
• Wisdom
• Yea
• Commentaries

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