2 Corinthians 4:17

2 Corinthians 4:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
• New International Version (NIV)For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
• New King James Version (NKJV)For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

Context of 2 Corinthians 4:17

15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow, to the glory of God. 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17 word by word

τὸ γὰρ παραυτίκα ἐλαφρὸν τῆς θλίψεως ἡμῶν καθ᾽ ὑπερβολὴν εἰς ὑπερβολὴν αἰώνιον βάρος δόξης κατεργάζεται ἡμῖν,Read the interlinear

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• lightἐλαφρόςelaphros · lightG1645
• momentaryπαραυτίκαparautika · momentaryG3910
• afflictionθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
• is producingκατεργάζομαιkatergazomai · to workout/produceG2716
• an eternalαἰώνιοςaiōnios · eternalG166
• weightβάροςbaros · burdenG922
• of gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391
• farκατάkata · according toG2596
• beyond comparisonὑπερβολήhuperbolē · surpassingG5236
• beyond comparisonεἰςeis · towardG1519

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 4:17

• 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.
• Psalms 30:5For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.
• Isaiah 54:8In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer.
• Acts 20:23I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me.
• Romans 8:18I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.
• 1 Peter 1:6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
• 1 Peter 4:7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
• 1 Peter 5:10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.
• Psalms 119:67Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I keep Your word.
• Matthew 5:12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
• Romans 5:3Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
• Philippians 1:19because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:4That is why we boast among God’s churches about your perseverance and faith in the face of all the persecution and affliction you are enduring.
• Hebrews 12:10Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
• James 1:3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
• 2 Corinthians 3:18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 4:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17For our light affliction, etc. - Mr. Blackwall, in his sacred classics, has well illustrated this passage. I shall here produce his paraphrase as quoted by Dr. Dodd: "This is one of the most emphatic passages in all St. Paul's writings, in which he speaks as much like an orator as he does as an apostle. The lightness of the trial is expressed by , the lightness of our affliction; as if he had said, it is even levity itself in such a comparison. On the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17For our light affliction - This verse, with the following, is designed to show further the sources of consolation and support which Paul and his fellow-laborers had in their many trials. Bloomfield remarks on this passage, that “in energy and beauty of expression, it is little inferior to any in Demosthenes himself, to whom, indeed, and to Thucydides in his orations, the style of the apostle, when it rises to the oratorical, bears no slight resemblance.”…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. 1717. which is but for a moment--"Our PRESENT light (burden of) affliction" (so the Greek; compare Mt 11:30), [Alford]. Compare "now for a season ... in heaviness" (1Pe 1:6). The contrast, however, between this and the "ETERNAL weight of glory" requires, I think, the translation, "Which is but for the present passing moment." So Wahl. "The lightness of affliction" (he does not express "burden" after "light"; the Greek is "the light of affliction") contrasts…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 4:17

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Assurance
• Faith
• Glory
• Righteous
• Suffering
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Afflictions
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Craftiness
• Despair
• Dishonesty
• Distress
• Heaven
• Light
• Temporal
• Affliction

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