II Corinthians 1:8

Referring to the imminent risk of life which he ran in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41) when the whole multitude were wrought up to fury by Demetrius, on the plea of Paul and his associates having assailed the religion of Diana of Ephesus. The words (Co2 1:9), "we had the sentence of death in ourselves," mean, that he looked upon himself as a man condemned to die [PALEY]. ALFORD thinks the danger at Ephesus was comparatively so slight that it cannot be supposed to be the subject of reference here, without exposing the apostle to a charge of cowardice, very unlike his fearless character; hence, he supposes Paul refers to some deadly sickness which he had suffered under (Co2 1:9-10). But there is little doubt that, had Paul been found by the mob in the excitement, he would have been torn in pieces; and probably, besides what Luke in Acts records, there were other dangers of an equally distressing kind, such as, "lyings in wait of the Jews" (Act 20:19), his ceaseless foes. They, doubtless, had incited the multitude at Ephesus (Act 19:9), and were the chief of the "many adversaries" and "[wild] beasts," which he had to fight with there (Co1 15:32; Co1 16:9). His weak state of health at the time combined with all this to make him regard himself as all but dead (Co2 11:29; Co2 12:10). What makes my supposition probable is, that the very cause of his not having visited Corinth directly as he had intended, and for which he proceeds to apologize (Co2 1:15-23), was, that there might be time to see whether the evils arising there not only from Greek, but from Jewish disturbers of the Church (Co2 11:29), would be checked by his first Epistle; there not being fully so was what entailed on him the need of writing this second Epistle. His not specifying this here expressly is just what we migh…

After the introduction (Co2 1:1, Co2 1:2) the apostle begins with the narrative of his troubles and God's goodness, which he had met with in Asia, by way of thanksgiving to God (Co2 1:3-6), and for the edification of the Corinthians (Co2 1:7-11). Then he attests his and his fellow-labourers' integrity (Co2 1:12-14), and afterwards vindicates himself from the imputation of levity and inconstancy (Co2 1:15-24).

1:8-11 dear brothers and sisters: Greek adelphoi. This traditional term of affection is used to address members of the same family, both male and female. • The trouble we went through in the province of Asia is not easy to identify. One suggestion is the riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41). Another is that Paul was tried in a civil court and faced the prospect of execution in Ephesus (2 Cor 1:9; see 1 Cor 15:32). Less likely is that he suffered an acute life-threatening illness. Paul was no stranger to mortal danger (2 Cor 1:10; see also 4:10-12; 6:9; 11:23), but he was marvelously rescued by divine assistance (1:11).