2 Corinthians 1:8
What does 2 Corinthians 1:8 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 1:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Corinthians 1:8 means
Paul does not hide the depth of his suffering in Asia. He and his companions were burdened far beyond their own strength, to the point of despairing of life itself. This candor corrects triumphalist views of ministry and shows that even apostles face crushing trials. By sharing this, Paul invites the Corinthians into honest fellowship. He also undermines critics who say he avoids hardship or is insincere. The experience was not a light inconvenience; it brought him to the brink. Yet this confession prepares for the greater point: in such extremity, human resources fail, and God’s comfort and deliverance become unmistakably divine, not the product of human resilience.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
KJV
King James Version · 1611For 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:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For it is our desire that you may not be without knowledge of our trouble which came on us in Asia, that the weight of it was very great, more than our power, so that it seemed that we had no hope even of life:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, of our tribulation that happened to us in Asia, that we were exceedingly burdened above <FI>our<Fi> power, so that we despaired even of life;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, of our tribulation which came to us in Asia: that we were pressed out of measure above our strength, so that we were weary even of life.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, as to our tribulation which happened [to us] in Asia, that we were excessively pressed beyond [our] power, so as to despair even of living.
Context
After promising comfort to those who share in sufferings, Paul gives a concrete example from his own life. The affliction in Asia provides the backdrop for the theological lesson that follows. This is more than biography; it is pedagogy by testimony. The next verse will explain the inner verdict he carried—the “sentence of death”—and why God allowed such extremity: to shift dependence from self to the God who raises the dead. This flow shows how deep trouble becomes a classroom for deep trust.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 4:8
Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have come to reign without us: yea and I would that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
- Acts 19:23
And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.
- 2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;
- 1 Samuel 27:1
And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all the borders of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
- 1 Corinthians 15:32
If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.
- 1 Corinthians 16:9
for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
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