2 Corinthians 1:9 (DRB)

Passage

But we had in ourselves the answer of death, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead.

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 1:7 That our hope for you may be steadfast: knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation.

2 Corinthians 1:8 For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, of our tribulation which came to us in Asia: that we were pressed out of measure above our strength, so that we were weary even of life.

2 Corinthians 1:9 But we had in ourselves the answer of death, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead.

2 Corinthians 1:10 Who hath delivered and doth deliver us out of so great dangers: in whom we trust that he will yet also deliver us,

2 Corinthians 1:11 You helping withal in prayer for us. That for this gift obtained for us, by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many in our behalf.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "ourselves", "answer", "death", "should", "trust", "raiseth", and "dead". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "ourselves" and "answer", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "For we would not have you ignorant..." into verse 10's "Who hath delivered and doth deliver us...", so "ourselves" and "answer" 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 "ourselves" and "answer" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.