What does 2 Corinthians 1:10 mean?

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Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 2 Corinthians 1:10

Explanation

2 Corinthians 1:10 is a verse filled with hope and faith, reflective of the Apostle Paul’s personal experiences and his relationship with God. Literally, Paul is acknowledging a past rescue from a perilous situation, which he describes as a “great death,” implying a severe threat to life. By stating that God “delivered us” in the past, and “doth deliver” in the present, Paul is expressing God’s continuous protection and intervention. The future aspect, “in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us,” conveys Paul’s confidence in God’s ongoing deliverance in times to come. Beyond the literal, this verse echoes themes of divine faithfulness, consistent divine intervention, and the assurance of salvation.

Historical Context

The Apostle Paul wrote 2 Corinthians, a letter to the church in Corinth, around 55-57 AD. This letter addressed various issues within the church, including challenges to Paul’s apostleship, misunderstandings regarding Christian doctrine, and addressing the concerns of the church community. At the time of writing, Paul had faced multiple life-threatening situations during his missionary journeys, including imprisonment, beatings, and shipwrecks. The “great death” mentioned could refer to these physical dangers or a spiritual death that threatened to overcome him due to his trials.

Theological Insights

The verse in question offers significant theological insights from various perspectives.

Evangelical Perspective: Emphasizes the sovereignty and faithfulness of God in delivering believers from trials and tribulations. It also underscores the virtue of placing trust in God for future deliverances.

Catholic Perspective: While similar to the evangelical view, it may also incorporate the grace of the sacraments as a means through which God delivers and sustains the faithful.

Reformed Perspective: May highlight the doctrine of perseverance of the saints, illustrating how God continually preserves and delivers His elect.

Liberal Theology: Might view the passage as metaphorical, focusing on the existential deliverances people experience rather than literal physical rescues.

Practical Applications

The verse inspires believers to look back on their past experiences and recognize God’s hand in their lives. In the face of current difficulties, it encourages the faithful to trust God’s ongoing help and future deliverance.

In Personal Crises: Remembering past deliverances to find strength and hope in current struggles.
In Ministry: As encouragement when facing opposition or discouragement in Christian service.
In Decision Making: Trusting God for guidance and protection when future paths seem uncertain.

Cross-References

Romans 15:13: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Philippians 1:19: “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,”
2 Timothy 4:18: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text are:

ἐρρύσατο (errysato): Translated as “delivered,” from the root ῥύομαι (ruomai), meaning to draw to oneself, to rescue.
ῥύεται (ruetai): Present tense of the same verb, emphasizing ongoing action, “doth deliver.”
πέποιθεν (pepoithen): From πείθω (peitho), meaning to persuade or be persuaded; in context, translated as “trust.”

These terms highlight the action of being rescued and the confident expectation of future help.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison with other ancient religions, this verse’s emphasis on divine rescue can be likened to myths where gods intervene to save mortals. However, unlike many mythological narratives where the deities act on whim or for personal gain, the Judeo-Christian God is depicted as consistently benevolent and faithful to His people.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the verse does not directly engage with scientific concepts but rather addresses metaphysical notions of providence and faith. Modern psychology might interpret the trust in future deliverance as a coping mechanism that provides psychological resilience.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry’s Commentary: Reflects on how God is a deliverer through past trials, and this should fortify Christians’ faith in facing future ones.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: Focuses on the threefold experience of deliverance mentioned: Paul’s past deliverance, his present, and his hope for the future.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Suggests that the past deliverance Paul refers to could be a specific event that the Corinthians would have known about, emphasizing the communal aspect of God’s deliverance and the shared faith amongst believers.