Why was Paul almost despairing of his life in the backdrop to 2 Corinthians 4?
Paul was almost despairing of his life because of a tremendous sickness that left him on a sickbed near death. After missing Titus at Troas, he went to Philippi, where he evidently lay gravely ill; once recovered, he later traveled down and visited Corinth a second time.
Les explains that the backdrop for 2 Corinthians 4:7 includes Paul missing Titus at Troas, then going up to Philippi in northern Greece. There he was evidently on his sickbed nigh unto death, and the next few verses reflect that he was almost despairing of his life because of his tremendous sickness. After he got well, he made his way down and finally visited Corinth a second time. Even so, the treasure of the light of God was in earthen vessels—mortal men, not angels—so Paul’s humanity did not stop the Word from continuing through other men.