Bible Strands
2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church, defending his ministry and urging them not to lose heart (v.16) as their "outer self" wastes away.
The words — παραυτίκα (parautika) is a rare NT word meaning "for a moment," marking the affliction as brief rather than merely light. ἐλαφρόν (elaphron) means "lightness" in the sense of weight, not illumination — the suffering is light, not heavy.
The thread — Romans 8:18 makes the same claim: present sufferings are not worthy of comparison with the glory to be revealed. 1 Peter 5:10 pairs "suffer for a little while" with "eternal glory," and Romans 5:3 traces the chain from suffering to perseverance.
Why it lands — The verse does not soften the affliction; it re-scales it against an eternal weight. It asks the reader to stop measuring present pain in isolation and hold it inside the larger proportion it claims.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Cross-references
- Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.
- 1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.
- Romans 5:3 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Hebrews 12:10 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
- James 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
- 1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
- Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
- 2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.