2 Corinthians 1:8 kjv

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

2 Corinthians 1:8 nkjv

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.

2 Corinthians 1:8 niv

We 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.

2 Corinthians 1:8 esv

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

2 Corinthians 1:8 nlt

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.

2 Corinthians 1 verses

2 Corinthians 1 8 Meaning

The Apostle Paul discloses an extreme and life-threatening ordeal he experienced in the Roman province of Asia. He conveys that the severity of this "affliction" was so overwhelming that it exceeded human strength and capability to endure, leading him and his companions to the point of utter despair regarding their very lives. This profound suffering served to deepen their reliance on God alone.

2 Corinthians 1 8 Context

This verse serves as a crucial foundation for the letter of Second Corinthians, particularly following Paul's opening greeting and his exposition on the "God of all comfort" (2 Cor 1:3-7). He transitions from blessing God for comfort to explaining why he and his companions needed such comfort, thereby establishing his own suffering as a basis for understanding God's grace and authenticating his ministry. The "affliction in Asia" likely refers to an event, or series of events, during Paul's ministry in the Roman province of Asia, of which Ephesus was the capital. Many scholars link this to the great riot instigated by Demetrius in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41) where Paul's life was genuinely imperiled, though some suggest it could refer to a severe illness, other persecution, or perhaps facing literal death in gladiatorial combat with "beasts" (as suggested by 1 Cor 15:32). Regardless of the specific event, its impact on Paul was profound, highlighting the dangerous nature of early Christian ministry and the depth of Paul's personal experience of divine intervention.

2 Corinthians 1 8 Word analysis

• For: Introduces a reason or explanation, connecting this verse to Paul's prior statements about God's comfort and their need for it.
• we do not want you to be unaware: (Grk: ou thelomen hymas agnoein) Paul intends to be transparent, ensuring the Corinthians comprehend the reality of his ministry and experiences. It indicates a significant disclosure.
• brothers: (Grk: adelphoi) A term of endearment and shared kinship in Christ, reinforcing the bond between Paul and the Corinthian believers. It softens the severity of the coming news, fostering empathy.
• of the affliction: (Grk: peri tēs thlipseōs) "Affliction" (thlipsis) literally means "pressure," "squeezing," or "crushing." It denotes severe distress, tribulation, or anguish, often incurred for the sake of the gospel (Rom 5:3, Phil 4:14). It implies immense external pressure or inner anguish.
• we experienced: (Grk: hemin genomenēs) Refers to a past, personal event, indicating it was a genuine, lived reality.
• in Asia: Geographical location, specifically the Roman province in Asia Minor, a major hub for Paul's missionary activities. Ephesus was its capital, a significant center where Paul spent about three years.
• For we were so utterly burdened: (Grk: hoste hyperbarōthēnai hēmas) "Utterly burdened" (hyperbarōthēnai) combines hyper (over, beyond) and bareō (to weigh down). It signifies an extraordinary, overwhelming weight or oppression, beyond measure.
• beyond our strength: (Grk: kath' hyperbolēn dynatōteroi) "Beyond measure" (hyperbolēn) from which the English word "hyperbole" derives, emphasizes an extreme degree, an exaggeration to highlight truth. "Our strength" (dynatōteroi) refers to human capability. The phrase highlights a complete exhaustion of human power, rendering them helpless.
• that we despaired: (Grk: hōste exaporethēnai) "Despaired" (exaporethēnai) is a strong verb meaning to be utterly without resources, at a loss, completely perplexed, or to have no way out. It signifies an abandonment of all hope for rescue or survival through human means (2 Cor 4:8, Gal 4:20).
• of life itself: (Grk: kai tou zēn) This amplifies the depth of their despair. It was not just despair of specific relief or success, but of living itself; they believed they were facing certain death.

Words-group Analysis

• "For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia.": Paul establishes transparency, desiring the Corinthians to fully grasp the severity of his trials. This disclosure builds credibility and emotional connection, setting the stage for lessons on divine comfort and weakness.
• "For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength": This phrase conveys the extreme physical and psychological strain. It indicates that the ordeal exceeded all human capacity for endurance, pushing them past their limits, so much so that no self-reliance was possible.
• "that we despaired of life itself.": This culminating phrase dramatically illustrates the absolute severity of the trial. It points to a profound existential crisis where Paul and his companions genuinely believed their lives were ending, a state that leaves no room for human hope, forcing a complete surrender to God.

2 Corinthians 1 8 Bonus section

The unspecified nature of the "affliction" is intentional and significant. By not detailing the specific nature of the life-threatening event in Asia, Paul makes the passage broadly applicable to any circumstance that pushes believers to despair of life. This universality reinforces the message that God's deliverance is available even when human resources are entirely exhausted. Furthermore, Paul's sharing of such extreme vulnerability was counter-cultural; in the Greco-Roman world, philosophers and rhetoricians often presented themselves as composed and immune to suffering. Paul's transparency, on the other hand, demonstrates genuine humanity and spiritual authenticity, validating his ministry as being truly dependent on divine power rather than personal charisma or strength. This experience underscores his central message in 2 Corinthians that "God's power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).

2 Corinthians 1 8 Commentary

In 2 Corinthians 1:8, Paul transparently reveals an overwhelming suffering he endured in Asia, stating it surpassed his human ability to bear, driving him to utter despair about his very life. This is not an admission of a lack of faith, but an honest portrayal of humanity pushed to its absolute limits, where reliance on self, past experiences, or human solutions crumbled entirely. The ambiguity of the specific "affliction" (whether it was the riot in Ephesus, severe illness, or another life-threatening event) allows the passage to resonate with any extreme trial that leads one to the brink of giving up. Paul’s purpose in sharing this profound weakness is not self-pity but to immediately demonstrate the essential lesson learned, revealed in the very next verse (2 Cor 1:9): that such extreme circumstances compelled them to trust not in themselves, but in God who raises the dead. This highlights a paradox central to Paul's theology—God's power is perfected and most clearly demonstrated in human weakness, validating Paul's ministry not by earthly triumph, but by divine deliverance from utter hopelessness. It also shows how the comfort God provides is rooted in real-life, painful experiences, making Paul's comfort relevant to those he ministers to who are also suffering (2 Cor 1:4).