2 Coríntios 1

2 Coríntios 1

Maclaren - Oh, when we are journeying through the murky night and the dark woods of affliction and sorrow, it is something to find here and there a spray broken, or a leafy stem bent down with the tread of His foot and the brush of His hand as He passed; and to remember that the path He trod He has hallowed, and thus to find lingering fragrance and hidden strength in the remembrance of Him as "in all points tempted like as we are," bearing grief for us, bearing grief with us, bearing grief like us. Earth has no sorrow that heaven does not feel. That we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life (zao in present tense - continue living) - Amp = "we were so utterly and unbearably weighed down and crushed that we despaired even of life [itself]." NLT paraphrases it "We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it." The idea of despaired even of life focuses on the end-impact (emotionally) that can result from having no solution, no way out so that one is totally at a loss because they feel that they have "no exit strategy". In short Paul apparently expected he would be martyred for the faith. THOUGHT - Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the challenges of living for Christ? (Most of us have at one time or another) You are in good company with the apostle Paul. By God's grace and Spirit, may this "classroom test" teach you the powerful principle of 2 Cor 1:9!