2 Corinthians 4:16

2 Corinthians 4:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
• New International Version (NIV)Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

Context of 2 Corinthians 4:16

14We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:16 word by word

διὸ οὐκ ἐγκακοῦμεν· ἀλλ᾽ εἰ καὶ ὁ ἔξω ἡμῶν ἄνθρωπος διαφθείρεται, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ ἔσω ἡμῶν ἀνακαινοῦται ἡμέρᾳ καὶ ἡμέρᾳ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• For which causeδιόdio · thereforeG1352
• we faintἐκκακέωekkakeō · to lose heartG1573
• notοὐou · noG3756
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• thoughεἰei · ifG1487
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• outwardἔξωexō · out/outside(r)G1854
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• perishδιαφθείρωdiaphtheirō · to destroyG1311
• the inwardἔσωθενesōthen · inwardlyG2081
• is renewedἀνακαινόωanakainoō · to renewG341
• dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 4:16

• 2 Corinthians 4:1Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up.
• Psalms 27:13Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.
• Psalms 119:81I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word.
• Isaiah 40:29He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
• 2 Corinthians 12:15I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.
• Job 19:26And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!
• Psalms 73:26My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
• Isaiah 57:1Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.
• Matthew 5:29So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
• Romans 7:22I love God’s law with all my heart.
• Ephesians 3:16I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
• 1 Peter 3:4You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
• Psalms 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
• Isaiah 40:31But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
• Romans 12:2Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 4:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16For which cause we faint not - . See on 2 Corinthians 4:1; (note). Here we have the same various reading; , we do no wickedness; and it is supported by BDEFG, and some others: but it is remarkable that Mr. Wakefield follows the common reading here, though the various-reading is at least as well supported in this verse as in verse first. The common reading, faint not, appears to agree best with the apostle's meaning. But though our outward man - That is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For which cause - With such an object in view, and sustained by such elevated purposes and desires. The sense is, that the purpose of trying to save as many as possible would make toil easy, privations welcome, and would be so accompanied by the grace of God, as to gird the soul with strength, and fill it with abundant consolations. We faint not - For an explanation of the word used here, see the note on 2 Corinthians 4:1. We are not exhausted…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. 1616. we faint not--notwithstanding our sufferings. Resuming 2Co 4:1. outward man--the body, the flesh. perish--"is wearing away"; "is wasted away" by afflictions. inward man--our spiritual and true being, the "life" which even in our mortal bodies (2Co 4:11) "manifests the life of Jesus." is renewed--"is being renewed," namely, with fresh "grace" (2Co 4:15), and "faith" (2Co 4:13), and hope (2Co 4:17, 18).Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 4:16

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Assurance
• Faith
• Man
• Suffering
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Inward Man
• Outward Man
• Afflictions
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Craftiness
• Despair
• Dishonesty
• Distress
• Heaven
• Light

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