God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 1:8
8Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be ignorant about the suffering we experienced in the province of Asia. It was so extreme that it was beyond our ability to endure. We even wondered if we could go on living.
2 Corinthians 1:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
- New International Version (NIV)We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
Context of 2 Corinthians 1:8
6Besides, if we suffer, it brings you comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, we can effectively comfort you when you endure the same sufferings that we endure. 7We have confidence in you. We know that as you share our sufferings, you also share our comfort. Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be ignorant about the suffering we experienced in the province of Asia. It was so extreme that it was beyond our ability to endure. We even wondered if we could go on living. 9In fact, we still feel as if we’re under a death sentence. But we suffered so that we would stop trusting ourselves and learn to trust God, who brings the dead back to life. 10He has rescued us from a terrible death, and he will rescue us in the future. We are confident that he will continue to rescue us,
Read all of 2 Corinthians 12 Corinthians 1:8 word by word
Οὐ γὰρ θέλομεν ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, ὑπὲρ τῆς θλίψεως ἡμῶν τῆς γενομένης ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ ὅτι καθ᾽ ὑπερβολὴν ὑπὲρ δύναμιν ἐβαρήθημεν ὥστε ἐξαπορηθῆναι ἡμᾶς καὶ τοῦ ζῆν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- we wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- notοὐou · noG3756
- brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- haveἀγνοέωagnoeō · be ignorantG50
- youσύsu · youG4771
- ofὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
- ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- troubleὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- troubleθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
- which cameγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- AsiaἈσίαAsia · AsiaG773
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- we were pressedβαρέωbareō · to burdenG916
- outκατάkata · according toG2596
- of measureὑπερβολήhuperbolē · surpassingG5236
- strengthδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
- insomuch thatὥστεhōste · soG5620
- despairedἐξαπορέωexaporeomai · to despairG1820
- evenκαίkai · andG2532
- of lifeζάωzaō · to liveG2198
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 1:8
- 2 Corinthians 4:7Our bodies are made of clay, yet we have the treasure of the Good News in them. This shows that the superior power of this treasure belongs to God and doesn’t come from us.
- Acts 19:23During that time a serious disturbance concerning the way ⌞of Christ⌟ broke out in the city of Ephesus.
- 1 Corinthians 15:32If I have fought with wild animals in Ephesus, what have I gained according to the way people look at things? If the dead are not brought back to life, “Let’s eat and drink because tomorrow we’re going to die!”
- 1 Corinthians 16:9I have a great opportunity to do effective work here, although there are many people who oppose me.
- 1 Corinthians 4:8You already have what you want! You’ve already become rich! You’ve become kings without us! I wish you really were kings so that we could be kings with you.
- 1 Samuel 20:3But David took an oath, saying, “Your father certainly knows that you support me, so he said ⌞to himself⌟, ‘Jonathan must not know about this. It will bring him distress.’ But I solemnly swear, as the Lord and you live, I’m only one step away from death.”
- 1 Samuel 27:1David said to himself, “One of these days Saul will sweep me away. The best thing for me to do is to make sure that I escape to Philistine territory. Then Saul will give up looking all over Israel for me, and I’ll escape from him.”
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 1:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Our trouble which came to us in Asia - To what part of his history the apostle refers we know not: some think it is to the Jews lying in wait to kill him, Acts 20:3; others, to the insurrection raised against him by Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen, Acts 19:23; others, to his fighting with beasts at Ephesus, 1 Corinthians 15:32, which they understand literally; and others think that there is a reference here to some persecution which is not recorded in…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8For we would not have you ignorant - We wish you to be fully informed; see the notes, 1 Corinthians 10:1; 1 Corinthians 12:1. The object of Paul here is, to give a full explanation of the nature of his trials, to which he had referred in 2 Corinthians 1:4. He presumed that the Corinthians would feel a deep interest in him and in his trials; that they would sympathize with him, and would pray that those sufferings, and that this deliverance might be…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 1:8
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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