2 Corinthians 1:10

 2 Corinthians 1:10

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

a. NLT: And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: Who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us; [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: Who out of so great a death did deliver us, and doth deliver, in whom we have hoped that even yet He will deliver; [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.] 

d. Classic Amplified: [For it is He] Who rescued and saved us from such a perilous death, and He will still rescue and save us; in and on Him we have set our hope (our joyful and confident expectation) that He will again deliver us [from danger and destruction and [c]draw us to Himself], [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Peshitta Eastern Text: Who delivered us from horrible deaths, and who will, we hope, again deliver us;  [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT.Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

1. “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;”

a. Who [Strong: 3739 hós, hos; probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article G3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:—one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

b. delivered [Strong: 4506 rhýomai, rhoo'-om-ahee; middle voice of an obsolete verb, akin to G4482 (through the idea of a current; compare G4511); to rush or draw (for oneself), i.e. rescue:—deliver(-er).]

c. us [Strong: 2248 hēmâs, hay-mas'; accusative case plural of G1473; us:—our, us, we.]

d. from [Strong: 1537 ek, ek; a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):—after, among, × are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, × hereby, + very highly, in, …ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, × thenceforth, through, × unto, × vehemently, with(-out).]

e. [so] great [Strong: tēlikoûtos, tay-lik-oo'-tos; from a compound of G3588 with G2245 and G3778; such as this, i.e. (in (figurative) magnitude) so vast:—so great, so mighty.]

f. [a] death [Strong: 2288 thánatos, than'-at-os; from G2348; (properly, an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively):—X deadly, (be…) death.]

g. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

h. [doth] deliver [Strong: 4506 rhýomai, rhoo'-om-ahee; middle voice of an obsolete verb, akin to G4482 (through the idea of a current; compare G4511); to rush or draw (for oneself), i.e. rescue:—deliver(-er).]

i. in [Strong: 1519 eis, ice; a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:—(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with.]

j. whom [Strong: 3739 hós, hos; probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article G3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:—one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

k. [we] trust [Strong: 1679 elpízō, el-pid'-zo; from G1680; to expect or confide:—(have, thing) hope(-d) (for), trust.]

l. that [Strong: 3754 hóti, hot'-ee; neuter of G3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:—as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

m. [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

n. [he will] yet [Strong: 2089 éti, et'-ee; perhaps akin to G2094; "yet," still (of time or degree):—after that, also, ever, (any) further, (t-)henceforth (more), hereafter, (any) longer, (any) more(-one), now, still, yet.]

o. deliver [us] deliver [Strong: 4506 rhýomai, rhoo'-om-ahee; middle voice of an obsolete verb, akin to G4482 (through the idea of a current; compare G4511); to rush or draw (for oneself), i.e. rescue:—deliver(-er).]

1). Notes from 1 Corinthian 15:32 regarding Paul’s possible Ephesian imprisonment.

2). This is a very intriguing verse (1 Corinthians 15:32) because Paul here mentions of fighting with animals in the arena. There is a difference of opinion among scholars as to the actual meaning of this verse. One school of thought teaches that this literally happened, while another school of thought teaches it is metaphorical. Personally I don’t know for sure. An important fact in all this is that Scripture never mentions an Ephesian imprisonment. The only thing mentioned that comes close to an arrest is in Acts 19:23-41, where there was a near riot with the silver idol makers, but there is no arrest and no imprisonment. In 2 Corinthians Paul refers to an incident that happened in Asia that might be referring to an Ephesian imprisonment that included an ordeal in the arena.

a). 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 

1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 

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

b). In this passage it is not only Paul but also some of those with him because he uses plural nouns though out the passage. Whatever the ordeal was, the wording implies that they thought they were going to die but God intervened and delivered them. 

2). There is another verse, this one in 2 Timothy that could hint to an Ephesian imprisonment. These passages are far from conclusive.

a). 2 Timothy 1:16-18 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

1:17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

1:18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

b). Just because it is not specifically mentioned in Scripture but only alluded to does not mean it did not happen. In 2 Corinthians Paul mentions a number of persecutions that are not recorded in the book of Acts but nevertheless happened.

c). 2 Corinthians 11:23-26 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

11:24  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

3). In his notes on 1 Corinthians 15:32, Dake writes that he believes the “fighting with beasts to be metaphorical and raises a very good point. “Perhaps referring to his fight with the beastly men at Ephesus (Acts 19:28-31). Such men are called beasts (Titus 1:12; 2 Peter 2:12; Jude 10). Paul does not refer to having been in combat with wild beasts in an arena when naming his hardships. The bottom line in all this is we don’t really know enough to definitely declare if Paul was in the arena combating with wild beasts.

4). Some have brought up the seemingly good point that a Roman citizen being condemned to the lions is very rare. It may be true that it is rare for a Roman citizen to be condemned to the lions but even in our contemporary courts in America which I believe is the best in the world there are people who are charged and convicted of crimes for which they did not commit. The use of DNA in many instances have overturned convictions and freed men in prison, some of which have served years in prison. Paul’s imprisonment that began at Jerusalem in Acts 22:27 and continued for years and lasted after the completion of the book of Acts was an injustice and whether he was freed and suffered a second imprisonment or not, Paul was ultimately beheaded unjustly by a Roman court. In the end this is a weak point.

3). A stronger point is made by appealing to the passage itself. In the previous verse Paul clearly uses the metaphor of death to describe his daily life.

a). a). 1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.