2 Corinthians 1:9 kjv

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

2 Corinthians 1:9 nkjv

Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

2 Corinthians 1:9 niv

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.

2 Corinthians 1:9 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.

2 Corinthians 1:9 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.

2 Corinthians 1 verses

2 Corinthians 1 9 Meaning

2 Corinthians 1:9 describes a profound experience of distress and despair faced by Paul and his companions, where they felt an internal conviction of imminent death. This intense suffering served a divine purpose: to compel them to abandon all reliance on their own strength, wisdom, or resources, and instead place their complete and sole trust in God. Crucially, the verse highlights God's power specifically as the One "who raises the dead," signifying His ultimate sovereignty over life and death and providing the foundational hope for deliverance from any peril, even death itself.

2 Corinthians 1 9 Context

2 Corinthians begins with Paul's personal account of his severe suffering, specifically referred to as "trouble/affliction which came to us in Asia" (2 Cor 1:8). The precise nature of this affliction is not specified (scholars suggest extreme illness, severe persecution, or even a deadly riot in Ephesus, as hinted in Acts 19), but it was so profound that Paul and his companions truly despaired of life itself. This immediate historical context sets the stage for 2 Corinthians 1:9, revealing the intensity of Paul's experience.

The broader context of 2 Corinthians chapter 1 is Paul's defense of his ministry and apostleship, as he had faced significant opposition and slander in Corinth. His opponents likely criticized his suffering and perceived weakness as signs that he was not a true apostle. However, Paul counters this by revealing that his suffering served a divine purpose: it deepened his reliance on God, demonstrated God's power through human weakness, and equipped him to comfort others who experience similar trials (2 Cor 1:3-7). This specific verse, 2 Corinthians 1:9, directly addresses the spiritual outcome of his affliction, shifting focus from the hardship itself to the transformative impact it had on his faith and dependence. The cultural context in the Greco-Roman world often valued human strength, self-sufficiency, and stoic endurance. Paul's message stands in direct polemic against this worldview, asserting that true strength and salvation come from recognizing one's complete powerlessness and surrendering to God's omnipotent power, especially His power over death.

2 Corinthians 1 9 Word analysis

• But: Greek alla (ἀλλά). This conjunction marks a strong contrast. It transitions from the previous description of extreme suffering (verse 8) to the profound spiritual lesson learned through that suffering, indicating a turning point in perspective and outcome.
• we had: Greek eschēkamen (ἐσχήκαμεν). This is from echō (ἔχω), meaning "to have" or "to hold," in the perfect active indicative tense. The perfect tense signifies a past action with continuing effects, implying that the "sentence of death" was a deeply personal, fully internalized experience that remained with them, affecting their understanding and future reliance.
• the sentence: Greek to apokrima (τὸ ἀπόκριμα). From apokrinomai (ἀποκρίνομαι), "to answer" or "to reply." Here, it specifically means a "judicial decision," a "verdict," or "sentence." It implies an official and final pronouncement. While not necessarily a legal court judgment, it conveys a profound internal conviction or an objective assessment of a desperate situation as a terminal one, as if a verdict of death had been handed down.
• of death: Greek tou thanatou (τοῦ θανάτου). Refers to physical death. Together with "sentence," it vividly portrays the extremity of the peril and the feeling of inevitable doom.
• in ourselves: Greek en heautois (ἐν ἑαυτοῖς). This emphasizes the internal, subjective nature of their experience. The "sentence" was not just external danger but an internalized reality; they recognized within themselves that their natural ability to survive was exhausted. It points to a deep self-awareness of utter human helplessness.
• that we should not trust: Greek hina mē pepoithenesai (ἵνα μὴ πεποιθέναι). Hina introduces a purpose clause ("in order that"), mē indicates negation. Pepoithamen is the perfect participle of peithō (πείθω), "to persuade," or "to have confidence in," here meaning "to rely on," "to be confident in," or "to trust." The perfect tense suggests a settled state of trust. The whole phrase clarifies the divine intention behind their severe trial. It was not punitive but refining.
• in ourselves: Greek eph' heautois (ἐφ’ ἑαυτοῖς). A repetition, for emphatic contrast. The specific locus of reliance: "on ourselves," highlighting the default human tendency to depend on personal strength, resources, or wisdom. The experience forced them to abandon this self-sufficiency.
• but in God: Greek all’ epi tō Theō (ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ). This provides the stark alternative and the ultimate intended destination of their trust. Allá (ἀλλά), "but," strongly contrasts self-reliance with divine reliance. Epi (ἐπί), "on," or "upon," with the dative, denotes the object of trust or dependence.
• who raises: Greek tō egaironti (τῷ ἐγείροντι). The present participle of egeirō (ἐγείρω), "to awaken," "to raise up." The present tense indicates a continuous and present activity of God, not just a past event (like Christ's resurrection), but His ongoing capacity to raise, restore, and give life.
• the dead: Greek tous nekrous (τοὺς νεκρούς). Refers to those who are physically deceased.

Words-group analysis:

• "But we had the sentence of death in ourselves": This phrase dramatically sets the stage for the profound spiritual lesson. It indicates an encounter with life's ultimate limit – death – and the internal realization that there was no human way out. It’s an admission of total powerlessness, a rock-bottom experience that strips away all pretense of human strength or control. This extreme plight prepared the ground for absolute divine dependence.
• "that we should not trust in ourselves but in God": This is the core purpose statement. The severe suffering was God-ordained to recalibrate their trust. It illustrates God's pedagogy: sometimes, He allows us to reach the very end of our human abilities and resources, leaving us with no option but to fully surrender and place our confidence entirely in Him. This transformation of reliance from the finite self to the infinite God is a central theme in Paul's theology.
• "who raises the dead": This is not a casual theological add-on; it is the specific, crucial attribute of God that forms the basis of their new trust. In the face of a "sentence of death," trust is placed in the One who holds ultimate power over death itself. It grounds faith in the resurrection power of God, a power demonstrated preeminently in Jesus Christ, and signifies God's absolute sovereignty and capacity to deliver even from the most dire, seemingly irreversible circumstances. This specific characteristic of God transforms despair into hope, connecting their personal experience of impending doom to the broader Christian hope of triumph over death through Christ.

2 Corinthians 1 9 Bonus section

• The purpose clause (hina mē...alla) signifies a God-ordained crucible. The experience of extreme suffering was not random or punitive, but meticulously designed by God to achieve a specific, spiritually formative outcome: the transfer of trust from self to Him alone. This highlights God's sovereignty over suffering and His benevolent purpose in allowing trials.
• Paul’s continuous ministry model, as shown in 2 Corinthians, hinges on this principle. His weakness became the canvas for God's power (2 Cor 12:9-10). The greater Paul's perceived weakness or helplessness, the more evidently divine was the power at work through him. This refutes the Corinthian church's admiration for outward showiness, human eloquence, or self-sufficient wisdom.
• The phrase "who raises the dead" acts as a profound liturgical echo within the early church. It links God's deliverance in daily life directly to the bedrock belief of the gospel: Christ's resurrection. It's a statement of radical Christian hope that sees beyond current suffering to God's ultimate triumph over mortality itself.
• This verse underpins the biblical concept that suffering often leads to profound spiritual maturity. By being brought to the absolute end of oneself, a believer discovers a new, deeper reality of God's sufficiency, moving from theoretical knowledge to an experienced, unshakeable trust.

2 Corinthians 1 9 Commentary

2 Corinthians 1:9 encapsulates a profound theological truth born out of intense personal suffering: God allows believers to face situations of utter despair and helplessness so that their faith may be purified and their trust solely placed in Him. Paul and his companions reached a point where they were convinced that their end was near, feeling an undeniable internal "sentence of death." This wasn't merely a close call; it was a soul-shattering recognition of their human limitations.

The divine intention behind this ordeal is pivotal. God permitted this crisis, not to destroy them, but "that we should not trust in ourselves but in God." This suffering became a crucible designed to burn away self-reliance, intellectual pride, human strength, or any dependence on their own apostolic authority. In moments when human ingenuity and resources are utterly exhausted, the only true refuge is found. This forces a spiritual surrender, compelling the individual to abandon every crutch and lean fully on the Creator.

The nature of the God upon whom their trust is redirected is fundamental: He is the God "who raises the dead." This is the ultimate declaration of His power. If God possesses the power to overcome the final enemy, death, then no challenge or peril in life—even those that feel like a death sentence—is too great for Him to handle or deliver from. This attributes emphasizes God's ultimate sovereignty and ability to restore life and hope in impossible situations. Paul consistently connected the hope of the resurrection of Christ to the believer's present experiences of suffering, showing that God’s ultimate victory over death is the sure foundation for His power to deliver in the present. This experience strengthened Paul’s ministry by removing any ground for human boasting, ensuring that the power and efficacy of his ministry were manifestly from God alone.

For example, when a believer faces an overwhelming crisis, such as a severe illness with no medical solution or an intractable relational conflict that feels like spiritual death, this verse encourages shifting focus from the hopelessness of the situation or one's own limited capacity, to the infinite power of God. The aim is not mere survival but deeper, transformative faith—learning to truly depend on the One who conquered the grave, trusting that He can deliver and redeem any circumstance according to His perfect will.