Note 4 at 2 Cor. 4:8: This word "troubled" was translated from the Greek word "thlibo" which meant "to crowd." That Greek word in turn was a derivative of "tribos" meaning "to rub." In modern day speech we would say, "We are under pressure, or rubbed the wrong way every day."

Note 5 at 2 Cor. 4:8: Verses 8-10 are often quoted as some sort of "stamp of approval" for the belief that God wants us to suffer. After all, look how the apostle Paul spoke of the problems he had. That is not the point Paul is making. In verse 7, he had just spoken of the fact that we have this treasure of Christ (see note 1 at v. 7) in physical bodies that are subject to problems (see note 2 at v. 7) so that all the praise would go to God. Now he is illustrating that point.

He does mention troubles and afflictions that he endured. But everyone is troubled, perplexed, persecuted, and cast down at times. He is not crediting God as the source of these troubles and he is not saying that the Lord is working some redemptive purpose through these troubles. He is simply listing things that are common to us all and yet showing how God's power makes us more than conquerors in every situation. This illustrates perfectly how the credit for this glorious power goes to God and not to us (see note 3 at v. 7).

Note 6 at 2 Cor. 4:8: Some people have taken the truth that we have complete victory in Christ to an extreme, and they will not even admit they have any problems. That's not Paul's example here. He said there were times he had trouble, but it didn't distress him. He was perplexed, but he didn't despair. He was persecuted, but never forsaken. And he was cast down, but never destroyed.

Admitting the frailty of our earthen vessel (body-see note 2 at v. 7) is not wrong if we go on to let the treasure we have on the inside (see note 1 at v. 7) supersede our physical limitations (see note 10 at Jn. 11:14, p. 367).

Note 7 at 2 Cor. 4:8: The New American Heritage Dictionary defines "distressed" as "pain or suffering of mind or body; severe psychological strain." Paul is saying that he was constantly under pressure, but those pressures didn't get on the inside of him. We cannot clear every problem out of our path, but we can keep the problems on the outside.

Note 8 at 2 Cor. 4:8: It was the Greek word "aporeo" which was translated "perplexed" in this verse. This word means "to have no way out, i.e. be at a loss (mentally)." Paul came into situations where it looked like there was no way out and he didn't know what to do (see note 10 at 2 Cor. 1:8, p. 977), but he knew he was never without help or means (see ref. f at this verse). His physical man didn't have the answers, but he wasn't just physical. He had Christ living in him and he drew on the Lord's ability. That's what kept him out of despair. It wasn't because he had no problems. It's because he had a treasure on the inside of him and he drew from that treasure by faith.

Likewise with us today, it is not our problems, or lack of them, that should determine our emotions. We can utilize the treasure on the inside of us to overcome in every situation (Rom. 8:37; 1 Cor. 15:57).