Homilies on Second Corinthians

“For we would not, Brethren, have you ignorant concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia.”

“These things we speak,” says he, “that you may not be ignorant of what befell us; for we wish, yea have earnestly endeavored, that you should know our affairs:” which is a very high proof of love. Of this even in the former Epistle he had before given notice, where he said, “For a great door and effectual is opened to me at Ephesus, and there are many adversaries.” Putting them then in mind of this, and recounting how much he suffered, he says, “I would not have you ignorant of our affliction which befell us in Asia.” And in his Epistle to the Ephesians too he said the same. For having sent Tychicus to them, he gives this as the reason of his journey: whence he says, “But that you also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things; whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that you may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.” And in other Epistles also he does the very same. Nor is it superfluous, but even exceedingly necessary: both because of his exceeding affection for the disciples, and because of their continued trials; wherein the knowledge of each other's fortunes was a very great comfort; so that if these were calamitous, they might be prepared both to be energetic and to be safer against falling; or if these were good, they might rejoice with them. He here, however, speaks as well of being delivered from trials as of being assaulted by them, saying, “We were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power.” Like a vessel sinking under some mighty burden. He may seem to have said, only one thing here “exceedingly” and “beyond our power:” it is, however, not one but two; for lest one should object, “What then? Granting the peril were exceeding, yet it was not great to you;” he added, it both was great and surpassed our strength, yea, so surpassed it, “That we despaired even of life.”

That is, we had no longer any expectation of living. What David calls “the gates of hell, the pangs” and “the shadow of death,” this he expresses by saying, “We endured peril pregnant with certain death.”