2 Corinthians 4:17

“For our light affliction, etc..] 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…”

“which is but for a moment--"Our PRESENT light (burden of) affliction" (so the Greek; compare Mat 11:30), [ALFORD]. Compare "now for a season . . . in heaviness" (Pe1 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…”

“For our light affliction - This verse, with the following, is designed to show further the sources of consolation and support which Paul and his fellow-laborers had in their many trials. Bloomfield remarks on this passage, that “in energy and beauty of expression, it is little inferior to any in Demosthenes himself, to whom, indeed, and to Thucydides in his orations, the style of the apostle, when it rises to the oratorical, bears no slight resemblance.” The passage abounds with intensive and emphatic expressions, and manifests that the mind of the writer was laboring to convey ideas which language, even after all the energy of expression which he could command, would very imperfectly…”

“Our light affliction - The beauty and sublimity of St. Paul's expressions here, as descriptive of heavenly glory, opposed to temporal afflictions, surpass all imagination, and cannot be preserved in any translation or paraphrase, which after all must sink infinitely below the astonishing original. 2 Corinthians 4:18”

“our: Co2 11:23-28; Psa 30:5; Isa 54:8; Act 20:23; Rom 8:18, Rom 8:34, Rom 8:37; Pe1 1:6, Pe1 4:7; Pe1 5:10 worketh: Psa 119:67, Psa 119:71; Mat 5:12; Rom 5:3-5; Phi 1:19; Th2 1:4, Th2 1:6; Heb 12:10, Heb 12:11; Jam 1:3, Jam 1:4, Jam 1:12 far: Co2 3:18; Gen 15:1; Psa 31:19, Psa 73:24; Isa 64:4; Luk 6:23; Rom 2:7; Co1 2:9; Pe1 1:7, Pe1 1:8, Pe1 5:10; Jo1 3:2; Jde 1:24 2 Corinthians 4:18”