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

15Indeed, everything is for your benefit so that, as grace extends through more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God. 16Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 18So we do not focus 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• lightἐλαφρόςelaphros · lightG1645
• afflictionθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
• which is but for a momentπαραυτίκαparautika · momentaryG3910
• workethκατεργάζομαιkatergazomai · to workout/produceG2716
• ·κατάkata · according toG2596
• a farὑπερβολήhuperbolē · surpassingG5236
• ·εἰςeis · towardG1519
• eternalαἰώνιοςaiōnios · eternalG166
• weightβάροςbaros · burdenG922
• of gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 4:17

• 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman — I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death.
• Psalms 30:5For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.
• Isaiah 54:8In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but I will have compassion on you with everlasting love,” says the Lord your Redeemer.
• Acts 20:23except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.
• Romans 8:18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
• 1 Peter 1:6You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials
• 1 Peter 4:7The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.
• 1 Peter 5:10The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.
• Psalms 119:67Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
• Matthew 5:12Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• Romans 5:3And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,
• Philippians 1:19because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:4Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches — about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring.
• Hebrews 12:10For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness.
• James 1:3because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
• 2 Corinthians 3:18We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is 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