2 Corinthians 4:17

4:13-18 The grace of faith is an effectual remedy against fainting in times of trouble. They knew that Christ was raised, and that his resurrection was an earnest and assurance of theirs. The hope of this resurrection will encourage in a suffering day, and set us above the fear of death. Also, their sufferings were for the advantage of the church, and to God's glory. The sufferings of Christ's ministers, as well as their preaching and conversation, are for the good of the church and the glory of God. The prospect of eternal life and happiness was their support and comfort. What sense was ready to pronounce heavy and long, grievous and tedious, faith perceived to be light and short, and but for a moment. The weight of all temporal afflictions was lightness itself, while the glory to come was a substance, weighty, and lasting beyond description. If the apostle could call his heavy and long-continued trials light, and but for a moment, what must our trifling difficulties be! Faith enables to make this right judgment of things. There are unseen things, as well as things that are seen. And there is this vast difference between them; unseen things are eternal, seen things but temporal, or temporary only. Let us then look off from the things which are seen; let us cease to seek for worldly advantages, or to fear present distresses. Let us give diligence to make our future happiness sure.

For our light affliction,.... The difference between the present and future state of the saints is here expressed, the disparity between them shown, and the influence the one has upon the other. The present state is a state of "affliction". Affliction is the common lot of the children of men, but more especially of the children of God, and is here designed by "our" affliction; for these, besides their soul trouble, meet with such in the world, and from the men of it, others do not.

Afflictions are appointed for them by their heavenly Father; provision is made for them, and support under them, in the covenant of grace; they are Christ's legacy to them, and by which they are conformed to him; they are always for their good, spiritual and eternal; and lie in their way to heaven, through which they must pass into the kingdom: now these their outward afflictions which are here meant, lie chiefly in the meanness of their outward circumstances; in poverty and distress, in disgrace, reproaches, and persecutions for their profession of Christ, and his truths: and in opposition to this their mean and despicable condition in the eyes of the world, their future state is signified by "glory", as it often is in the word of God; and is of such a nature, that all the glories of this world, such as kingdoms, crowns, inheritances, possessions, riches, honour, and substance of every kind and degree, by all which the heavenly state is expressed, are but faint resemblances of it: it is the same glory Christ has entered into, is possessed of for, and will give to all his people; it will chiefly lie in communion with Father, Son, and Spirit, with angels, and one another; there will be a visible glory upon the bodies of the saints, which will be fashioned like to the glorious body of Christ; and their souls will be blessed with perfect knowledge and holiness.

Our light affliction which is but for a moment (τὸ παραυτίκα ἐλαφρὸν τῆς θλίψεως ἡμῶν) Lit., the present light (burden) of our affliction. Worketh (κατεργάζεται) Works out: achieves. A far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (καθ' ὑπερεβολὴν εἰς ὑπερβολὴν αἰώνιον βάρος δόξης) Rev., more and more exceedingly an eternal weight, etc. An expression after the form of Hebrew superlatives, in which the emphatic word is twice repeated. Lit., exceedingly unto excess. The use of such cumulative expressions is common with Paul. See, for example, Philippians 1:23, lit., much more better; Romans 8:37, abundantly the conquerors; Ephesians 3:20, exceeding abundantly, etc. Note how the words are offset: for a moment, eternal; light, weight; affliction, glory.

For our {p} light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of {q} glory; (p) Afflictions are not called light, as though they were light in themselves, but because they pass away quickly, as indeed our whole life is not of very long continuance. (q) Which remains forever firm and stable, and can never be shaken.

The apostle in these words wonderfully lesseneth his own, and the rest of the apostles’, and all other Christians’ sufferings for the gospel: he calleth them light, not that they were so in themselves, but with respect to that weight of glory which he mentioneth in the latter part of the verse: he calleth them momentary, but for a moment, with reference to that eternity which is mentioned. The afflictions are light, the glory will be a weight; the afflictions are but for a moment, the glory shall be eternal. And (saith the apostle) our affliction worketh for us this glory: the glory will not only be a consequent of these afflictions, but these afflictions will be a cause of it; not a meritorious cause, (for what proportion is there between momentary afflictions and eternal glory? Between light afflictions and a weight of glory, an exceeding weight of glory?) But a cause in respect of the infinite goodness and mercy of God, and in respect of the truth and faithfulness of God.

2 Corinthians 4:17 . Παραυτίκα , [ but for a moment ]) just now: a brief present season is denoted, 1 Peter 1:6 [ ὄλιγον ἄρτι , a brief season now .] The antitheses are, just now , and eternal; light , and weight: affliction , and glory; which is in excessive measure , and in an exceeding degree .— καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν , in excessive measure ) Even that affliction , which is καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν , in excessive measure , when compared with other less afflictions, 2 Corinthians 1:8 , is yet light compared with the glory εἰς ὑπερβολὴν , in an exceeding degree . A noble Oxymoron.— κατεργάζεται ) works, procures , accomplishes.

2 Corinthians 4:17 . τὸ γὰρ παραυτίκα κ . τ . λ .: for our present light burden of affliction worketh out for us more and more exceedingly an eternal heavy burden of glory; cf. , for the thought (ever full of consolation to the troubled heart), Psalm 30:5 , Isaiah 54:7 , Matthew 5:11 , Hebrews 12:11 , 1 Peter 1:6 ; 1 Peter 5:10 , and especially Romans 8:18 . παραυτίκα does not refer (as the A.V. and R.V. would suggest) to the brief duration of temporal affliction, but only to its being present with us now , as set over against the future glory (see reff.). τὸ ἐλαφρόν τῆς θλίψεως offers a good instance of “the most classical idiom in the language of the N.T.” (Blass)—especially frequent in St. Paul—according to which a neuter singular adjective is used as if it were an abstract noun; cf. chap. 2 Corinthians 8:8 , Romans 8:3 , 1 Corinthians 1:25 , Php 3:8 , etc., for a like construction. καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν εἰς ὑπερβολήν is another Hebraism (see last verse), מאר מאר = “exceedingly”; it cannot qualify βάρος (as the A.V. takes it) or αἰώνιον , but must go with κατεργάζεται , as above ( cf. Galatians 1:13 ). Stanley points out that the collocation βάρος δόξης may be suggested by the fact that the Hebrew כָּבַד means both “to be heavy” ( Genesis 18:20 , Job 6:3 ) and “to be glorious” ( Job 14:21 ); cf. the ambiguity in the Latin gravitas .

Verse 17. - For our light affliction, which is but for a moment; literally, for the immediate lightness of our affliction . Worketh for us. Is bringing about for us, with all the immeasurable force of a natural and progressive law. A far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; literally, in excess unto excess . For the phrase, "to excess - characteristic, like other emotional expressions, of this group of Epistles - see 2 Corinthians 1:8 ; Galatians 1:13 . The word "eternal" is in antithesis to the "for a moment." The "weight" is suggested by the "lightness," and possibly also by the fact that in Hebrew the word for "glory" also means "weight." The general contrast is found also in Matthew 5:12 ; 1 Peter 5:10 ; Hebrews 12:10 ; Romans 8:18 . The frequent resemblances between this Epistle and that to the Romans are natural when we remember that they were written within a few months of each other. 2 Corinthians 4:17

17. which is but for a moment—"Our PRESENT light (burden of) affliction" (so the Greek; compare Mt 11:30), [Alford]. Compare "now for a season … in heaviness" (1Pe 1:6). The contrast, however, between this and the "ETERNAL weight of glory" requires, I think, the translation, "Which is but for the present passing moment." So Wahl. "The lightness of affliction" (he does not express "burden" after "light"; the Greek is "the light of affliction") contrasts beautifully with the "weight of the glory." worketh—rather, "worketh out." a far more exceeding and—rather, "in a surpassing and still more surpassing manner" [Alford]; "more and more exceedingly" [Ellicott, Trench, and others]. Greek, "in excess and to excess." The glory exceeds beyond all measure the affliction.

17. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment ] Literally, For the momentary lightness of our affliction . The argument is advanced another step. Not only have we this inner fount of strength and consolation, but we know that it is eternal, while our afflictions endure but for a moment. Cf. Romans 8:18 . worketh for us ] Literally, worketh out, bringeth to perfection . The precise opposite of the word translated ‘brought to nought,’ ‘done away.’ See ch. 2 Corinthians 3:7 . a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory] Over measure an everlasting birthun into higness of glorie , Wiclif. Literally, a weight of glory in excess and unto excess : the whole passage denoting that the glory to come exceeds the power of words to tell. The Vulgate renders ‘supra modum in sublimitate.’ Alford, ‘in a surpassing and still more surpassing manner.’ The old English versions, including the A. V., follow Tyndale here. An expression very closely approaching to this is the usual one in Hebrew for anything immeasurably great, as for instance, in the original of Genesis 7:19 . The word glory in Hebrew is derived from the original idea of weight . It is possible that this connection of ideas may have influenced St Paul in the choice of this expression.

(17) For our light affliction . . . —More accurately, the present lightness of our affliction. This is at once more literally in accord with the Greek, and better sustains the balanced antithesis of the clauses. A far more exceeding . . .—The Greek phrase is adverbial rather than adjectival: worketh for us exceedingly, exceedingly. After the Hebrew idiom of expressing intensity by the repetition of the same word, (used of this very word “exceedingly” in Genesis 7:19; Genesis 17:2), he seeks to accumulate one phrase upon another (literally, according to excess unto excess) to express his sense of the immeasurable glory which he has in view.