2 Corinthians 4:17 (DBY)

Passage

For our momentary [and] light affliction works for us in surpassing measure an eternal weight of glory;

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things [are] for your sakes, that the grace abounding through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Wherefore we faint not; but if indeed our outward man is consumed, yet the inward is renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our momentary [and] light affliction works for us in surpassing measure an eternal weight of glory;

2 Corinthians 4:18 while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen [are] for a time, but those that are not seen eternal.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "light", "momentary", "affliction", "works", "surpassing", "measure", "eternal", and "weight". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "light" and "momentary", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "Wherefore we faint not but if indeed..." into verse 18's "while we look not at the things...", so "light" and "momentary" belong inside that flow. In 2 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "light" and "momentary" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.