2 Corinthians 4:8–10
Afflicted but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned
Study it word by word8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed;
10always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made manifest in our body.
In its context
6For God, who said, “Out of darkness light will shine,” is the one who has shone in our hearts for the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of the Messiah.
7But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from us.
…
11For we who are alive are always being handed over to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Its words in the original
- θλιβόμενοιthlibomenoi· press, afflict
Press, crowd; afflict. A "narrow way" is a pressed, hard way.
- στενοχωρούμενοιstenochōroumenoi· be crushed, be restricted
Be hemmed in, be crushed with no way out; be restricted, have no room.
- ἀπορούμενοιaporoumenoi· be at a loss
Be perplexed, not know what to do.
- ἐξαπορούμενοιexaporoumenoi· despair
Despair: lose all hope, see no way out at all.
- διωκόμενοιdiōkomenoi· persecute, pursue
Persecute, pursue; also strive after.
- ἐγκαταλειπόμενοιenkataleipomenoi· forsake
Abandon, leave alone.
- καταβαλλόμενοιkataballomenoi· strike down, lay down
Strike down, throw to the ground; also lay down a foundation.
- ἀπολλύμενοιapollymenoi· destroy, perish
Destroy, cause to perish; in the middle voice, perish, be lost.
- πάντοτεpantote· always
Always.
- νέκρωσινnekrōsin· deadness, dying
Deadness, a state of death; also dying, being put to death.
- ἸησοῦIēsou· Jesus
Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means "YHWH saves". It is the name the angel told Joseph to give him (Matthew 1:21).
- σώματιsōmati· body
Body.
- περιφέροντεςperipherontes· carry around
Carry about from place to place.
- ζωὴzōē· life
Life; the true life that God gives.
- φανερωθῇphanerōthēi· reveal, make known
Reveal, show, make known.