Why did Paul almost despair of life itself in 2 Corinthians 4?
Paul almost despaired because, from the start of his Gentile ministry, he faced satanic opposition from every direction. It seemed he was just getting the gospel established, yet everything fell in on him. He grew weary, and being human, he despaired even of life itself from his sickbed.
Les explains that as soon as Paul began his ministry among the Gentiles, he came under satanic opposition from every possible direction. In chapter 4 he grew weary and almost despaired of life itself because it seemed he was just getting the gospel off the ground, and everything just fell in on him. Les notes Paul was as human as we are; he despaired even of life itself from his sickbed. Throughout the Corinthian letters Paul also defended his apostleship, since the Judaizers claimed Peter, who spent three years with the Lord, was their spokesman, and other factions also arose.
More Questions
What was Paul's mindset when he wrote 2 Corinthians 4?
Paul wrote 2 Corinthians 4 with the mindset of a man who had just gotten up from a sickbed in Philippi, thought his ministry had come to an end and that God was taking him off the scene, but God did not.
What did Paul experience in 2 Corinthians 4?
In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul grew weary and almost despaired of life itself.