2 Corinthians 1:9

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:
• 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,
• 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

7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 8We 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. 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. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

2 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 competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
• 2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
• 2 Corinthians 12:7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
• Job 40:14Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
• Psalms 22:29All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive.
• Psalms 44:5Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.
• Proverbs 28:26Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
• Jeremiah 9:23This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches,
• Jeremiah 17:5This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
• Ezekiel 33:13If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done.
• Luke 18:9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:
• 2 Corinthians 4:13It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,
• Ezekiel 37:1The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.
• Romans 4:17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
• Hebrews 11:19Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

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

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Confidence
• Death
• False Confidence
• Paul
• Prayer
• Self-Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Call
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Despair
• Fleshly
• Testimony
• Wisdom
• Yea
• Commentaries

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