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

15For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God. 16Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison 18because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen 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 am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times.
• Psalms 30:5For his anger lasts only a brief moment, and his good favor restores one’s life. One may experience sorrow during the night, but joy arrives in the morning.
• Isaiah 54:8In a burst of anger I rejected you momentarily, but with lasting devotion I will have compassion on you,” says your protector, the Lord.
• Acts 20:23except that the Holy Spirit warns me in town after town that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.
• Romans 8:18For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us.
• 1 Peter 1:6This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials.
• 1 Peter 4:7For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.
• 1 Peter 5:10And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
• Psalms 119:67Before I was afflicted I used to stray off, but now I keep your instructions.
• Matthew 5:12Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.
• Romans 5:3Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
• Philippians 1:19for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:4As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.
• Hebrews 12:10For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.
• James 1:3because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
• 2 Corinthians 3:18And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which 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