2 Corinthians 4 - Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

Their sufferings for the gospel were great, yet with rich supports.

The apostles were great sufferers, yet they met with wonderful support. Believers may be forsaken of their friends, as well as persecuted by enemies; but their God will never leave them nor forsake them. There may be fears within, as well as fightings without; yet we are not destroyed. The apostle speaks of their sufferings as a counterpart of the sufferings of Christ, that people might see the power of Christ's resurrection, and of grace in and from the living Jesus. In comparison

with them, other Christians were, even at that time, in prosperous circumstances. (2Co 4:13-18)