God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 1:9
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.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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,
Context of 2 Corinthians 1:9
7We have confidence in you. We know that as you share our sufferings, you also share our comfort. 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. In 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, 11since you are also joining to help us when you pray for us. Then many people will thank God for the favor he will show us because many people prayed for us.
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 3:5By ourselves we are not qualified in any way to claim that we can do anything. Rather, God makes us qualified.
- 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.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7especially because of the excessive number of revelations that I’ve had. Therefore, to keep me from becoming conceited, I am forced to deal with a recurring problem. That problem, Satan’s messenger, torments me to keep me from being conceited.
- Job 40:14Then even I will praise you because your right hand can save you.
- Psalms 22:29All prosperous people on earth will eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust will kneel in front of him, even those who are barely alive.
- Psalms 44:5With you we can walk over our enemies. With your name we can trample those who attack us.
- Proverbs 28:26Whoever trusts his own heart is a fool. Whoever walks in wisdom will survive.
- Jeremiah 9:23This is what the Lord says: Don’t let wise people brag about their wisdom. Don’t let strong people brag about their strength. Don’t let rich people brag about their riches.
- Jeremiah 17:5“This is what the Lord says: Cursed is the person who trusts humans, who makes flesh and blood his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
- Ezekiel 33:13I may promise the righteous person that he will certainly live. But if he trusts in the right things that he has done and he does evil, none of the right things that he has done will be remembered. He will die because of the evil things he has done.
- Luke 18:9Jesus also used this illustration with some who were sure that God approved of them while they looked down on everyone else.
- 2 Corinthians 4:13The following is written, “I believed; therefore, I spoke.” We have that same spirit of faith. We also believe; therefore, we also speak.
- Ezekiel 37:1The power of the Lord came over me. The Lord brought me out by his Spirit and put me down in the middle of a valley. The valley was filled with bones.
- Romans 4:17as Scripture says: “I have made you a father of many nations.” Abraham believed when he stood in the presence of the God who gives life to dead people and calls into existence things that don’t even exist.
- Hebrews 11:19Abraham believed that God could bring Isaac back from the dead. Abraham did receive Isaac back from the dead in a figurative sense.
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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