Outward Perish Inward Renewed 2 Corinthians 4:16

Paul the apostle shared with the church members how, “all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God”, and in chapter four and verse sixteen of Second Corinthians, Paul told the church members, “though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed”, where we read:

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish,

yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

The verse begins, “For which cause we faint not;” Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “which cause” or “wherefore and on account of the grace through thanksgiving redounding to the glory of God” “we faint not” which means “Paul and his companions were not utterly spiritless, wearied and exhausted”. Although they suffered even the threat of death for sharing the “gospel” of Jesus Christ, because God's “abundant grace” glorified the Lord, Paul and his companions did not grow weary.

The verse continues, “but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” Paul added the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “though our outward man” or “even if Paul and his companions' outside person or physical body” “perish” which means “is destroyed or corrupted”, “yet” or “nevertheless and notwithstanding” “the inward man” which refers to “the inside or spiritual person” “is renewed” or “caused to grow up, made new and changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state” “day by day” which means “from every natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night, to each natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night”. Paul and his companions' outward bodies were being “corrupted and destroyed”, but their “inward” spiritual bodies were being made new each and every day.

When we think through these words of Paul, we marvel at the persistence and determination of he and his companions. They knew their physical bodies were suffering, and yet, they found hope in knowing their “spiritual bodies” were being made new every day. No one but Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit can put that resolve and purpose within a person's life, and when we turn our lives over to Him, He becomes Lord not only of our physical bodies but also our spiritual bodies as well. Though out “outward man perish” our “inward man” is being made anew every day.

Next time Paul shares with the church members about he and his companions', “light affliction, which is but for a moment”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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