2 Corinthians 4 17

2 Corinthians 4:17 kjv

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2 Corinthians 4:17 nkjv

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

2 Corinthians 4:17 niv

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

2 Corinthians 4:17 esv

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

2 Corinthians 4:17 nlt

For 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!

2 Corinthians 4 verses

2 Corinthians 4 17 Meaning

This verse provides a profound spiritual perspective on suffering, asserting that the present tribulations faced by believers are temporary and relatively minor when compared to the vast, eternal, and glorious reward awaiting them. It posits that God actively uses these transient hardships to produce an incomparable, everlasting weight of glory for His followers, far surpassing the intensity and duration of any present discomfort. The suffering is not random but purposeful, functioning as a means by which divine, everlasting glory is prepared.

2 Corinthians 4 17 Context

2 Corinthians chapter 4 finds Paul defending his apostolic ministry amidst significant opposition and suffering. He explains that his outward suffering and weakness serve to highlight the surpassing power of God (2 Cor 4:7-12). He portrays himself and his co-workers as "earthen vessels" carrying a divine treasure (the gospel message and the Spirit). The immediate verses leading up to 4:17 (4:13-16) express Paul's enduring faith and hope in resurrection, refusing to "lose heart" even as his "outer self is wasting away." This verse then logically follows as the reason why they do not lose heart: because their transient, light afflictions are directly contributing to an eternal and heavy glory. Historically, the Corinthian church was influenced by Greek thought valuing rhetoric, wisdom, and strength, and they often misjudged Paul's apparent weaknesses (lack of eloquent speech, suffering) as signs of a deficient ministry. Paul challenges this worldly perspective, reframing suffering not as a failure but as a paradoxical pathway to genuine, God-given glory, contrasting their ephemeral earthly values with God's eternal realities.

2 Corinthians 4 17 Word analysis

• For: (Greek: γὰρ - gar) A connective conjunction, establishing a logical link. It signals that what follows is the reason or explanation for the preceding statement in verse 16, which is "we do not lose heart." It clarifies why they are not discouraged.
• our: Refers to believers, specifically Paul and his co-workers, but universally applicable to all who are in Christ. It emphasizes shared experience and ownership.
• light: (Greek: ἐλαφρόν - elaphron) Meaning "light" in weight or "easy to bear," "trifling." It's a deliberate understatement by Paul, not dismissing the reality of suffering, but viewing it from an eternal perspective, contrasting sharply with the "weight" of glory. It frames the suffering as ephemeral.
• affliction: (Greek: θλῖψις - thlipsis) This term denotes "pressure," "distress," "tribulation," "oppression," or "anguish." It suggests crushing experiences and trials. It captures the reality of suffering but is qualified by "light" and "momentary."
• which is but for a moment: (Greek: πρόσκαιρον - proskairon) Meaning "temporary," "transient," or "for a season." From `pros` (to) and `kairos` (a specific, appointed time or season). This highlights the finite duration of the suffering in contrast to the eternal nature of the glory.
• is working for us: (Greek: κατεργάζεται - katergazetai) "To work out," "achieve," "accomplish," "produce effectively," "bring about." This is a strong, causative verb, indicating active production or outcome. It implies God's intentional design and sovereign agency, actively using suffering for a higher purpose rather than just permitting it. The suffering itself is the instrument, directed by God.
• a far more exceeding: (Greek: καθ' ὑπερβολὴν εἰς ὑπερβολήν - kath' hyperbolēn eis hyperbolēn) This is a superlative, a powerful Greek idiom expressing intensity – literally "to a surpassing measure into a surpassing measure," or "beyond all measure," "incomparably," "super-abundantly." It's a double superlative emphasizing the infinite superiority of the glory.
• eternal: (Greek: αἰώνιον - aiōnion) "Everlasting," "perpetual," "without end." This signifies endlessness and timelessness, standing in stark contrast to "momentary." It stresses the lasting, unending nature of the promised glory.
• weight: (Greek: βάρος - baros) Meaning "weight," "heaviness," "burden," but also "importance" or "authority." This word directly contrasts with "light" (elaphron). In Jewish thought, "glory" (Hebrew: kabod) carried the double meaning of "weight" and "splendor." A weighty thing implies substance, reality, significance, and intrinsic value.
• of glory: (Greek: δόξα - doxa) "Glory," "splendor," "radiance," "majesty," "honor." It often refers to God's revealed presence, character, and splendor, which believers will share in. It describes the character and magnificent nature of the eternal reward, an participation in God's own divine radiance.

• "our light affliction, which is but for a moment": This phrase creates a stark paradox and immediate contrast. Paul downplays the intensity and duration of current suffering not to diminish its pain, but to elevate the outcome. The suffering, however real, is fleeting and ultimately minor in scale compared to the eternal reward.
• "is working for us": This emphasizes the active, beneficial, and divinely orchestrated process. Our sufferings are not wasted; they are instruments in God's hands to forge a specific, glorious outcome for us. It conveys purposefulness and agency in what seems random.
• "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory": This entire phrase forms the dramatic crescendo and antithesis of the verse. It describes the incomparable nature of the future reward: it is incredibly superior ("far more exceeding"), unending ("eternal"), and substantial ("weight"), signifying its genuine reality, vast importance, and rich value, embodying the divine splendor and honor awaiting believers. The juxtaposition of "light, momentary" with "far more exceeding, eternal weight" highlights Paul's argument of inverse proportion.

2 Corinthians 4 17 Bonus section

This verse embodies what some call "God's divine economy" – His remarkable ability to leverage perceived negatives (human weakness, suffering, fleeting pain) to yield ultimate positives (divine power, spiritual maturity, and unparalleled eternal glory). The intentional use of antithetical pairs (light vs. weight, momentary vs. eternal) is a rhetorical device that underlines the absolute disproportion between current reality and future promise. This isn't just about believers "enduring" suffering, but God actively working through it, shaping character, deepening faith, and preparing us for a substantial participation in His own doxa. The hope presented here transforms the present: rather than seeking to avoid affliction at all costs, the believer understands it as a temporary, purposeful conduit for a truly priceless and never-ending future.

2 Corinthians 4 17 Commentary

2 Corinthians 4:17 is a cornerstone of Christian theology regarding suffering, offering profound hope and a radical reorientation of perspective. Paul asserts that present hardships, while real, are light and momentary when weighed against the eternal weight of glory God is actively producing for believers. This is not Stoic resignation to fate, but an unwavering, joyful confidence rooted in an eschatological reality. The suffering of this life is not a senseless end but a purposeful means, a temporary press by a divine sculptor shaping an everlasting masterpiece. The double superlative "far more exceeding" and the Hebrew concept of kabod (glory as tangible weight/substance) emphasize the incomprehensible magnitude and solid reality of this future glory. It transcends human imagination, dwarfing any present distress in its duration, intensity, and worth. The verse calls believers to view current trials through the lens of God's magnificent future, encouraging perseverance by valuing eternal inheritance above temporal ease.