2 Corinthians 4:16

Context

2 Corinthians is a letter that Paul sent to the church at Corinth. The section from 2:14 to 7:4 is a lengthy defense of his apostolic ministry. In 4:1 Paul states, "we faint not," and then likens the gospel to a treasure held "in earthen vessels" (4:7). He goes on to list the sufferings he endures, saying that though "troubled on every side," he is not in despair (4:8-12), and he expresses the hope of resurrection: that he who raised up Jesus will raise them up also (4:14). Verse 16 takes up this hope with "For which cause" and returns once more to "we faint not." The thought then continues into the "light affliction, which is but for a moment" and the "eternal weight of glory" of verses 17-18, and into the "earthly house of this tabernacle" of chapter 5.

The Korean Revised Version renders "perish" with hupaehada, an archaic word meaning "to decay and wear out until useless." The New Korean Revised Version changed this to nalgajina ("grows old, wears out"). The Greek original contrasts the "outer person" with the "inner person."

Interpretation

• Anthropological reading: The outward man refers to the whole of one's life in this world, including the body that ages and falls ill, while the inward man refers to the inner self that stands in relationship with God. Many commentators explain that this distinction differs from the dualism of Greek philosophy, which divides body and soul into two opposing parts and disparages the body. They note that immediately before and after this verse Paul speaks of the resurrection of the body and of being "clothed upon" with the heavenly dwelling (4:14; 5:1-4).
• Eschatological reading: The outward man is read as life belonging to this passing age, and the inward man as the new creation already begun in Christ (5:17). On this reading, "renewed day by day" means that the glory to come is already at work in the present.
• Reading in connection with sanctification: Various Protestant traditions read this verse together with the doctrine of sanctification, by which the Holy Spirit renews believers day by day. In this connection, "from glory to glory" in 2 Corinthians 3:18 is often set alongside it.

Questions of Application

There is no clear interpretive divide among denominations on this verse. Nevertheless, the following questions have been raised.

• Is it the same as the old man and the new man? The "old man" and "new man" of Ephesians 4 contrast a sinful way of life with a new life. The outward man and inward man of this verse contrast that which is wasting away with that which is being renewed, and different words are used. Some therefore point out that equating the two could lead to the mistaken idea that the body itself is sinful.
• Use as comfort in aging and illness: The original context is the suffering of an apostle in the course of preaching the gospel. On this basis, some caution against using the verse merely as general comfort for aging. Others hold that it can be applied broadly, since chapter 5 addresses the mortal body of every believer.

In the Korean Church

The verse is often cited as a word of comfort at funeral services, in sermons for elderly church members, and during pastoral visitation of members battling illness. The Korean Revised Version's expression hupaehana ("perish") remains familiar today among longtime believers.

Related Passages

• 2 Corinthians 4:7
• 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
• 2 Corinthians 5:1-4
• Romans 7:22
• Ephesians 4:22-24