2 Corinthians 1:9-10

2 Corinthians 1:9-10

[9] But  we had  the sentence  of death  in  ourselves,  trust  in  ourselves,  but  in  God  which  raiseth  the dead:  [10] Who  delivered  from  so great  a death,  and  doth deliver:  in  whom  we trust  that  yet  deliver 

What does 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The "sentence of death" was the assurance Paul had that he was going to die as a result of this affliction.
"The great lesson of this overwhelming affliction which had befallen him was that he (and all who are Christ"s) should trust, not in self, but in God, "the Raiser of the dead."
". . . in the wake of this trying experience that was tantamount to death there followed a further experience that was tantamount to resurrection." [1]
"This Isaiah , indeed, a theme which provides a key to the whole epistle. Is Paul assailed by anguish of spirit? It is God who always leads him in triumph in Christ ( 2 Corinthians 3:13 ff.). Do we have the treasure of divine glory in earthen vessels? It is that it may be seen that the exceeding greatness of the power is of God, and not of self ( 2 Corinthians 4:7 ff.). Is the Apostle always delivered unto death for Jesus" sake? It is that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in his mortal flesh ( 2 Corinthians 4:10 ff.). Is the outward man decaying? Yet the inward man is renewed day by day ( 2 Corinthians 4:16).... The climax is reached in the twelfth chapter where Paul explains how through the endurance of a "thorn in the flesh" he was taught that God"s grace is all-sufficient and that His power is made perfect in weakness ( 2 Corinthians 12:7 ff.). This was a principle to which even our Lord submitted in providing our salvation, for He was crucified through weakness, but is alive through the power of God ( 2 Corinthians 13:4). It is a theme, therefore, which points to the unity of the epistle, and which in particular links the concluding to the opening chapter." [2]
Some translations (e.g, AV) render 2 Corinthians 1:10, "delivered ... does deliver ... will deliver" (past, present, future). The better rendering (e.g, NASB, NIV) Isaiah , "delivered ... will deliver ... will yet deliver" (past, future, more distant future). In either case the meaning is clear. God delivered Paul from this past affliction, would continue to deliver him from the same or similar afflictions in the future, and would always deliver him.
"He says "death" rather than "peril of death," because he had regarded himself as a dead man." [3]
"When God puts His children into the furnace, He keeps His hand on the thermostat and His eye on the thermometer ( 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Peter 1:6-7)." [4]
Paul teaches us then that affliction does four things for us. It makes us more sympathetic. It gives us a greater appreciation for God"s super-abounding comfort and encouragement, which He brings to us with the affliction. It causes us to trust in God more, and it gives us greater confidence in God"s power and greater hope for the future.