2 Corinthians 4:16

2 Corinthians 4:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
• New International Version (NIV)Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

Context of 2 Corinthians 4:16

14knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us [along] with you in His presence. 15For all [these] things are for your sake, so that as [God’s remarkable, undeserved] grace reaches to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of [our great] God. Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day. 17For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! 18So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.

2 Corinthians 4:16 word by word

διὸ οὐκ ἐγκακοῦμεν· ἀλλ᾽ εἰ καὶ ὁ ἔξω ἡμῶν ἄνθρωπος διαφθείρεται, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ ἔσω ἡμῶν ἀνακαινοῦται ἡμέρᾳ καὶ ἡμέρᾳ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• For which causeδιόdio · thereforeG1352
• we faintἐκκακέωekkakeō · to lose heartG1573
• notοὐou · noG3756
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• thoughεἰei · ifG1487
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• outwardἔξωexō · out/outside(r)G1854
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• perishδιαφθείρωdiaphtheirō · to destroyG1311
• the inwardἔσωθενesōthen · inwardlyG2081
• is renewedἀνακαινόωanakainoō · to renewG341
• dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 4:16

• 2 Corinthians 4:1Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as we received mercy [from God, granting us salvation, opportunities, and blessings], we do not get discouraged nor lose our motivation.
• Psalms 27:13I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
• Psalms 119:81My soul languishes and grows weak for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.
• Isaiah 40:29He gives strength to the weary, And to him who has no might He increases power.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].
• 2 Corinthians 12:15But I will very gladly spend [my own resources] and be utterly spent for your souls. If I love you greatly, am I to be loved less [by you]?
• Job 19:26Even after my [mortal] skin is destroyed [by death], Yet from my [immortal] flesh I will see God,
• Psalms 73:26My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever.
• Isaiah 57:1The righteous man perishes [at the hand of evil], and no one takes it to heart; Faithful and devout men are taken away, while no one understands That the righteous person is taken away [to be spared] from disaster and evil.
• Matthew 5:29If your right eye makes you stumble and leads you to sin, tear it out and throw it away [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
• Romans 7:22For I joyfully delight in the law of God in my inner self [with my new nature],
• Ephesians 3:16May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality],
• 1 Peter 3:4but let it be [the inner beauty of] the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature] which is very precious in the sight of God.
• Psalms 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.
• Isaiah 40:31But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.
• Romans 12:2And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 4:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16For which cause we faint not - . See on 2 Corinthians 4:1; (note). Here we have the same various reading; , we do no wickedness; and it is supported by BDEFG, and some others: but it is remarkable that Mr. Wakefield follows the common reading here, though the various-reading is at least as well supported in this verse as in verse first. The common reading, faint not, appears to agree best with the apostle's meaning. But though our outward man - That is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For which cause - With such an object in view, and sustained by such elevated purposes and desires. The sense is, that the purpose of trying to save as many as possible would make toil easy, privations welcome, and would be so accompanied by the grace of God, as to gird the soul with strength, and fill it with abundant consolations. We faint not - For an explanation of the word used here, see the note on 2 Corinthians 4:1. We are not exhausted…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-18Verses 13-18 The grace of faith is an effectual remedy against fainting in times of trouble. They knew that Christ was raised, and that his resurrection was an earnest and assurance of theirs. The hope of this resurrection will encourage in a suffering day, and set us above the fear of death. Also, their sufferings were for the advantage of the church, and to God's glory. The sufferings of Christ's ministers, as well as their preaching and conversation…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-17we do not lose heart: This call to endurance comes with a reminder of what the future holds (5:1–10). The human body naturally ages and deteriorates, and Paul was especially worn down both physically and emotionally (4:8–12). But he experienced daily renewal. His spirit was refreshed and revitalized by God's power.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. we faint not--notwithstanding our sufferings. Resuming 2Co 4:1. outward man--the body, the flesh. perish--"is wearing away"; "is wasted away" by afflictions. inward man--our spiritual and true being, the "life" which even in our mortal bodies (2Co 4:11) "manifests the life of Jesus." is renewed--"is being renewed," namely, with fresh "grace" (2Co 4:15), and "faith" (2Co 4:13), and hope (2Co 4:17, 18).Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 4:16

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Assurance
• Faith
• Man
• Suffering
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Inward Man
• Outward Man
• Afflictions
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Craftiness
• Despair
• Dishonesty
• Distress
• Heaven
• Light

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 4

• 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