Discovery Box2 Corinthians 4:7-12
Context4:7 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 4:12 As a result, 10 death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 11
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
Context10:3 For though we live 12 as human beings, 13 we do not wage war according to human standards, 14 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, 15 but are made powerful by God 16 for tearing down strongholds. 17 We tear down arguments 18
2 Corinthians 10:10
Context10:10 because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak 19 and his speech is of no account.” 20
2 Corinthians 10:1
Context10:1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you 21 personally 22 by the meekness and gentleness 23 of Christ (I who am meek 24 when present among 25 you, but am full of courage 26 toward you when away!) –
Colossians 2:3
Context2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
[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.”
[4:9] 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.”
[4:12] 11 tn Grk “death is at work in us, but life in you”; the phrase “is at work in” is repeated in the translation for clarity.
[10:3] 13 tn Grk “in the flesh.”
[10:3] 14 tn Grk “according to the flesh.”
[10:4] 15 tn Grk “are not fleshly [weapons].” The repetition of the word “warfare” does not occur in the Greek text, but is supplied for clarity.
[10:4] 16 tn Or “but (are) divinely powerful,” “but they have divine power,” or “but are powerful for God’s [service]”; Grk “but are powerful to God.”
[10:4] 17 sn Ultimately Paul is referring here to the false arguments of his opponents, calling them figuratively “strongholds.” This Greek word (ὀχύρωμα, ocurwma) is used only here in the NT.
[10:4] 18 tn Or “speculations.”
[10:10] 19 tn Or “unimpressive.”
[10:10] 20 tn Or “is contemptible”; Grk “is despised.”
[10:1] 21 tn The Greek pronoun (“you”) is plural.
[10:1] 22 tn The word “personally” is supplied to reflect the force of the Greek intensive pronoun αὐτός (autos) at the beginning of the verse.
[10:1] 23 tn Or “leniency and clemency.” D. Walker, “Paul’s Offer of Leniency of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:1): Populist Ideology and Rhetoric in a Pauline Letter Fragment (2 Cor 10:1-13:10)” (Ph.D. diss., University of Chicago, 1998), argues for this alternative translation for three main reasons: (1) When the two Greek nouns πραΰτης and ἐπιείκεια (prauth" and ejpieikeia) are used together, 90% of the time the nuance is “leniency and clemency.” (2) “Leniency and clemency” has a military connotation, which is precisely what appears in the following verses. (3) 2 Cor 10-13 speaks of Paul’s sparing use of his authority, which points to the nuance of “leniency and clemency.”
[10:1] 24 tn Or “who lack confidence.”
