2 Corinthians 4:8

8 We are afflicted in every [way], but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;

2 Corinthians 4:8 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 4:8

We are troubled on every side
Or afflicted; (en panti) , either "in every place", wherever we are, into whatsoever country, city, or town we enter, we are sure to meet with trouble, of one sort or another; for wherever we be, we are in the world, in which we must expect tribulation: or "always", every day and hour we live, as in ( 2 Corinthians 4:10 2 Corinthians 4:11 ) we are never free from one trial or another: or "by everyone"; by all sorts of persons, good and bad, professors and profane, open persecutors and false brethren; yea, some of the dear children of God, weak believers, give us trouble: or "with every sort" of trouble, inward and outward; trouble from the world, the flesh and the devil:

yet not distressed;
so as to have no hope, or see no way of escape; so as to have no manner of comfort, or manifestations of the love of God; or so as to be straitened in our own souls; for notwithstanding all our troubles, we have freedom at the throne of grace, and in our ministry; we can go with liberty to God, and preach the Gospel boldly to you:

we are perplexed;
and sometimes know not what to do, which way to take, what course to steer, or how we shall be relieved and supplied; we are sometimes at the utmost loss about things temporal, how we shall be provided for with food and raiment; nor are we without our perplexing thoughts, doubts, and fears, about spiritual affairs:

but not in despair;
of the Lord's appearing and working salvation, both in a temporal and spiritual sense.

2 Corinthians 4:8 In-Context

6 For God who said, "Light will shine out of darkness," [is the one] who has shined in our hearts for the enlightenment of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthenware jars, in order that the extraordinary degree of the power may be from God and not from us.

8 We are afflicted in every [way], but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;

9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed;

10 always carrying around the death of Jesus in our body, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.