ACC ~ 2 Corinthians 1 v9

DEATH STARING AT THEM. AMBROSIASTER: Paul means that there was such a violent upsurge of evil against preachers of the faith that death was staring them in the face. But God does not refuse his protection to people in extreme danger, especially when they belong to him. He rescued them when they were in deep despair. Their affliction was so great that they would not have withstood it if God had not been with them. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

THE SENTENCE OF DEATH. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul was expecting death, but things had not come to that point. In the natural course of events, he should have died, but God did not allow that to happen in order that Paul would learn not to trust in himself but in God. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 2.3.

TO RELY NOT ON OURSELVES. PELAGIUS: Death itself teaches us that all human help is inadequate and that our only hope is to rely on him who can raise us from the dead. COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 1.

A CALL TO LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND. BASIL: Perfect renunciation, therefore, consists in not having an affection for this life and keeping before our minds the “answer of death, that we should not trust in ourselves.” But a beginning is made by detaching oneself from all external goods: property, vainglory, life in society, useless desires, after the example of the Lord’s holy disciples. James and John left their father Zebedee and the very boat upon which their whole livelihood depended. Matthew left his counting house and followed the Lord, not merely leaving behind the profits of his occupation but also paying no attention to the dangers which were sure to befall both himself and his family at the hands of the magistrates because he had left the tax accounts unfinished. To Paul, finally, the whole world was crucified, and he to the world. THE LONG RULES 8.

1 Cor