2 Corinthians 1:9-10
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Paul and his companions didn't just face a difficult situation; they felt a death sentence hanging over them! This extreme pressure wasn't a sign of God's absence, but a divine setup to strip away their self-reliance and force them to completely depend on God's power – the same power that overcomes death itself.
Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is writing to the Corinthian church to explain his reasons for postponing a planned visit, which had caused some confusion and distress. He recounts severe trials they faced in Asia that brought them to the brink of despair, emphasizing that this near-death experience wasn't just a setback but a divine lesson. This hardship ultimately forced them to place their complete trust not in their own strength, but in God's power to revive them.
Ever felt like you've hit rock bottom? The Apostle Paul did, describing his situation as a 'sentence of death.' Yet, this wasn't the end of his story.
Crushing Circumstances
Paul and his companions faced extreme suffering, so severe that they believed they would die. This wasn't a minor inconvenience; it was a life-ending reality. This intense pressure forced them to abandon any reliance on their own strength or abilities.
The Purpose of the Pressure
God allowed this near-death experience not to punish them, but to redirect their trust. The goal was clear: to shift their dependence from 'ourselves' – their own resources, resilience, or wisdom – to 'God who raises the dead.' This highlights a divine strategy: stripping us of self-sufficiency to reveal His complete sufficiency.
What does it mean that God 'raises the dead'? It’s not just about literal resurrection; it’s about His ultimate power over any situation, no matter how hopeless.
The Ultimate Deliverer
The phrase 'God who raises the dead' is a profound declaration of His omnipotence. It points to His supreme authority over life and death itself. This isn't a small power; it's the power that conquered the grave.
Hope in Hopelessness
Ask a follow-up
When Paul and his team faced what seemed like certain death, their hope wasn't in escaping the situation through their own means. Their hope was rooted in the God who possesses the ultimate power to deliver, even from situations that appear irrevocably lost. This power is what Paul ultimately relied on, and it's the same power available to us.
Understand the original words
apokrima · Greek Noun
The judicial decree or final verdict of death. It implies a situation where all human hope for survival has been extinguished.
pepoitha · Greek Verb
To trust or depend upon someone or something. Biblically, it emphasizes moving from self-reliance to total confidence in God's power.
egeirō · Greek Verb
The supernatural act of bringing back to life those who have died. It serves as the ultimate proof of God’s sovereignty over life, death, and decay.
rhyomai · Greek Verb
The act of God rescuing or saving His people from danger or destruction. It reflects God’s active intervention in the lives of His servants.
This verse powerfully reflects Paul's deep suffering and the constant threat of death he faced for the Gospel, highlighting how his extreme circumstances stripped away self-reliance and forced him to depend entirely on God's resurrection power.
c. AD 53-57
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
During his extensive ministry in Ephesus, Paul faced severe opposition, including riots and threats to his life. This period was marked by intense spiritual warfare and physical danger.
c. AD 57
Paul's Painful Visit to Corinth
Paul made a difficult visit to Corinth that did not go as planned, leading to deep sorrow and a sense of severe affliction for both him and the church there.
c. AD 57— this verse
Paul Writes 2 Corinthians
Written shortly after his painful visit to Corinth, this letter addresses internal divisions, false apostles, and Paul's own apostleship. It reflects his deep emotional turmoil and reliance on God.
c. AD 57
Paul Defends His Ministry
A significant portion of 2 Corinthians is Paul's defense of his apostolic authority against detractors, often contrasting his suffering with their boasting.
c. AD 57-60
Subsequent Ministry and Letters
Paul continued his missionary journeys, facing ongoing trials and persecutions, all while seeking to nurture the churches through his letters and personal visits.
This passage directly references Jesus raising the dead, echoing the verse's focus on God's power over death to bring about reliance on Him.
Romans 4:17Paul speaks of God as the one who 'gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist,' mirroring the specific power mentioned in 2 Corinthians 1:9.
Philippians 3:10Paul expresses a deep desire to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, aligning with the theme of God's resurrecting power being the source of reliance.
Jeremiah 17:5This verse warns against relying on human strength ('flesh'), which directly contrasts with the verse's call to rely on God, the one who can overcome even death.
Paul and his companions didn't just face a difficult situation; they felt a death sentence hanging over them! This extreme pressure wasn't a sign of God's absence, but a divine setup to strip away their self-reliance and force them to completely depend on God's power – the same power that overcomes death itself.
Paul is writing to the Corinthian church to explain his reasons for postponing a planned visit, which had caused some confusion and distress. He recounts severe trials they faced in Asia that brought them to the brink of despair, emphasizing that this near-death experience wasn't just a setback but a divine lesson. This hardship ultimately forced them to place their complete trust not in their own strength, but in God's power to revive them.
Paul is writing to the Corinthian church to explain his reasons for postponing a planned visit, which had caused some confusion and distress. He recounts severe trials they faced in Asia that brought them to the brink of despair, emphasizing that this near-death experience wasn't just a setback but a divine lesson. This hardship ultimately forced them to place their complete trust not in their own strength, but in God's power to revive them.
"Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he…" — Paul and his companions didn't just face a difficult situation; they felt a death sentence hanging over them! This extreme pressure wasn't a sign of God's absence, but a divine setup to strip away th…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
