English Standard Version
2 Corinthians 1:9
9Indeed, 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.
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.
- 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,
- New Living Translation (NLT)In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.
Context of 2 Corinthians 1:9
7Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. 8For 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. 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. 10He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 12 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 sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,
- 2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
- Job 40:14Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you.
- Psalms 22:29All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.
- Psalms 44:5Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
- Proverbs 28:26Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
- Jeremiah 9:23Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,
- Jeremiah 17:5Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.
- Ezekiel 33:13Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die.
- Luke 18:9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
- 2 Corinthians 4:13Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so 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; it was full of bones.
- Romans 4:17as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
- Hebrews 11:19He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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