2 Corinthians 4:9 (LSB)

Passage

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;

2 Corinthians 4:8 in every way afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;

2 Corinthians 4:9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

2 Corinthians 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

2 Corinthians 4:11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "persecuted", "forsaken", "struck", "down", and "destroyed". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "persecuted" and "forsaken", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "in every way afflicted but not crushed..." into verse 10's "always carrying about in the body the...", so "persecuted" and "forsaken" 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 "persecuted" and "forsaken" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.