2 Corinthians 1:9
What does 2 Corinthians 1:9 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 1:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Corinthians 1:9 means
Paul says he carried within himself the “sentence of death.” He felt condemned, expecting to die. God allowed this so that Paul would not rely on himself but on God who raises the dead. This is the heart of the lesson. Human strength reaches its end; resurrection power belongs to God. By pointing to the God who raises the dead, Paul implicitly anchors confidence in the resurrection revealed in Christ. If God conquers death, then no trial is ultimate. The experience shifted Paul’s trust away from self-preservation and toward a God-centered hope, teaching him—and us—that the deepest deliverance is spiritual: learning to lean wholly on the Lord.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead:
KJV
King James Version · 1611But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Yes, we ourselves have had the answer of death in ourselves, so that our hope might not be in ourselves, but in God who is able to give life to the dead:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862but we ourselves in ourselves the sentence of the death have had, that we may not be trusting on ourselves, but on God, who is raising the dead,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But we had in ourselves the answer of death, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But we ourselves had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not have our trust in ourselves, but inGod who raises the dead;
Context
The extreme affliction in Asia serves a purpose: to reorient trust. This verse interprets the crisis theologically, preparing for Paul’s threefold testimony of deliverance—past, present, and future—in the next verse. The flow moves from despair, to theological insight, to renewed hope. By highlighting God’s power over death, Paul anchors all subsequent encouragements. The Corinthians need this framework to understand both Paul’s endurance and the stability he desires for them amid their own hardships.
v.8For 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:
v.9This passage
v.10who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 22:29
All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship: All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him, Even he that cannot keep his soul alive.
- Psalms 44:5
Through thee will we push down our adversaries: Through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
- Jeremiah 9:23
Thus saith Jehovah, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches;
- Luke 18:9
And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought:
- Ezekiel 33:13
When I say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his righteousness, and commit iniquity, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered; but in his iniquity that he hath committed, therein shall he die.
- Jeremiah 17:5
Thus saith Jehovah: Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from Jehovah.
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