2 Corinthians 4:7-11

An Eternal Weight of Glory

4:7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power ¹  belongs to God and does not come from us. 4:8 We are experiencing trouble on every side, ²  but are not crushed; we are perplexed, ³  but not driven to despair; 4:9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned; ⁴  we are knocked down, ⁵  but not destroyed, 4:10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, ⁶  so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible ⁷  in our body. 4:11 For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible ⁸  in our mortal body. ⁹ 

[4:7]  ¹ tn Grk “the surpassingness of the power”; δυνάμεως (dunamew") has been translated as an attributed genitive (“extraordinary power”).

[4:8]  ² tn Grk “we are hard pressed [by crowds] on every side.”

[4:8]  ³ tn Or “at a loss.”

[4:9]  ⁴ tn Or “forsaken.”

[4:9]  ⁵ tn Or “badly hurt.” It is possible to interpret καταβαλλόμενοι (kataballomenoi) here as “badly hurt”: “[we are] badly hurt, but not destroyed” (L&N 20.21).

[4:10]  ⁶ tn The first clause of 2 Cor 4:10 is elliptical and apparently refers to the fact that Paul was constantly in danger of dying in the same way Jesus died (by violence at least). According to L&N 23.99 it could be translated, “at all times we live in the constant threat of being killed as Jesus was.”

[4:10]  ⁷ tn Or “may also be revealed.”

[4:11]  ⁸ tn Or “may also be revealed.”

[4:11]  ⁹ tn Grk “mortal flesh.”