2 Corinthians 1:8 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant As if he had said, We speak thus concerning the sufferings wherewith God is pleased to exercise his people, because we have lately experienced them in a large measure: of our trouble which came to us in Asia It is probable that the apostle here refers either to some opposition which he met with in his journey through Galatia and Phrygia, (Acts 18:23,) of which no particular account has reached us; or to the tumult excited by Demetrius, as is related Acts 19:23-41. “It may be said, perhaps, that it does not appear from the history that any danger threatened Paul's life in the uproar at Ephesus, so imminent as that from which he here represents himself to have been delivered. This matter, it is true, is not stated by the historian in form; but the personal danger of the apostle we cannot doubt must have been extreme, when the whole city was filled with confusion; when the populace had seized his companions; when, in the distraction of his mind, he insisted on coming forth among them; when the Christians, who were about him, would not suffer him; when his friends, certain of the chief of Asia, sent to him, desiring that he would not adventure himself into the tumult; when, lastly, he was obliged to quit immediately the place and the country; and, when the tumult was ceased, to depart into Macedonia. Nothing could be more expressive of the circumstances in which the history describes him to have been at the time when the epistle purports to have been written,” than the verses under consideration. “It is the calm recollection of a mind emerged from the confusion of instant danger. It is that devotion and solemnity of thought which follows a recent deliverance. There is just enough of particularity in the passage to show that it is to be referred to the tumult at Ephesus.” Paley. That we were pressed out of measure The Corinthians knew before that he had been in trouble. He now declares the greatness and the fruit of it; above strength Above the ordinary strength of a Christian, even of an apostle; insomuch that we despaired even of life Ourselves, and were looked upon by others as dead men. We had the sentence of death in ourselves That is, not only did others apprehend this concerning us, but we ourselves did indeed think that the appointed end of our life and ministry was come. That we should not trust in ourselves That, for the future, we should put no confidence in our own wisdom or power to elude the designs of our enemies, nor merely regard human probabilities; but in the greatest and most extreme dangers should learn to repose a cheerful confidence in the power and providence of that God who, at his own pleasure, raiseth the dead by his almighty word; who delivered us from so great a death As then threatened us; and doth still deliver In the various dangers with which we are continually surrounded. In whom we trust that he will yet deliver us From every evil, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom. Ye also As well as other churches; helping by prayer for us From this we learn, that the most eminent saints may be assisted and benefited by the prayers of persons much inferior to them in station and piety; which is a great encouragement to us to pray for one another, and a reason for our desiring each other's prayers. That for the gift Namely, my deliverance; bestowed by the means of many persons praying for it, thanks may be given by many on our behalf Since nothing can be more reasonable than that mercies obtained by prayer should be acknowledged in praise.