Perplexed, but not despairing - 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

In his second letter to the Corinthian church, Paul enumerates both the similarities and differences between those who are believers and those who are in the world. In noting the differences, Paul reminds us that it is the Lord who enables us to live differently from the rest of the world. Paul writes, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10 NASB). Of particular interest is the phrase “perplexed, but not despairing.” In this phrase, Paul uses a play on words to highlight an important truth about our life in Christ.

The Greek word for “perplexed” is a compound word containing the negative particle and the Greek verb “to go.” This word could also be translated, “nowhere to go” or “no way out.” In this sense, “perplexed” is a good translation. However, the Greek word for “despairing” is also a compound word containing the preposition for “from,” “out of,” or simply “of,” and the same Greek word that was translated as “perplexed.” This word could be translated as “from nowhere to go” or “of nowhere to go.” Paul is saying that, while at times we may face challenges where we may find ourselves with “nowhere to go,” we are not “of nowhere to go.” In other words, our identity is not in our circumstances, nor do we live our life out of that place. Instead, our identity is in Christ, and we live our lives centered in his love and presence in our lives. We are of his kingdom, not of our circumstances. This is the reason why, as believers, we can have great hope. Because no matter how great our trials and tribulations are, no matter how often we feel we have “nowhere to go” or “no way out,” we realize that these things do not define us nor control the arc of our lives. We may experience these things, but they do not control us. Our hope is not in our circumstances but in a God who loves us and who has redeemed us from the power of our circumstances. In whatever we face, the source of our life is in God, not in the world or our circumstances. What great hope this is to our lives, even in the face of difficult circumstances.

David Robison