Many times, we can come up with ideas that "seem" to match the context, but a peripheral study of other
passages shows that our thought cannot be right. In other cases, we take a thought that is most certainly
true, but we hedge it into the wrong verse and end up unwittingly misapplying the verse in question. The
latter example happens quite frequently (with me also) in verses like the one above. More often than not,
the verse above will be used in a sense that is most certainly a sound concept, but it is not quite what
the apostle had in mind when penning it down.

Many times, the verse above is utilized as a passing thought for eternal security. The Lord has saved us
from so great a death (2nd death as a result of being dead in trespasses and in sins), He continues to deliver us (will not let us go), and we trust will yet deliver us (nothing in the future is going to change that situation). Is this concept true? Most certainly, verily and amen! Paul concludes as much when putting the finishing touches on the 8th chapter of Romans. Therefore, we see that the thought espoused is indeed a correct one, but let us examine the thought in light of the context to determine what Paul referred to in his opening thoughts to the church at Corinth.

Verse 10 (above) is in the middle of not only a thought, but it is also the middle portion of a sentence. The sentence begins in verse 8, and it continues through verse 11. So, to get an idea of what verse 10 means, we need to (at the very least) investigate the other verses that comprise this single sentence. Further, we need to also examine and consider where a verse is found in an epistle when trying to rightly divide it. For example, one would expect the opening remarks of a letter to be more "general" in scope as they set the stage for what will come later. So, since this verse is part of the opening remarks to Corinth, we would expect that the
thoughts would not be drilled to specific points (as they will be in later chapters).

In verse 8 we learn that Paul has undergone some trouble since he has last seen the brethren at Corinth. This trouble was so severe that he was pressed out of measure and "despaired even of life."  Now, if one has despaired even of life, they are at a point when they would rather be dead. Paul lays out some of those physical burdens that he suffered later in this book in the 11th chapter. It would not take many beatings with whips and rods to despair of life.

Being stoned so badly that the stoners left you for dead would leave a physical condition less preferable than death perhaps.  Verse 9 tells us that they had the sentence of death in themselves. Many times, Paul's travels led him before magistrates that had the civil power to condemn him to death. There would also be angry mobs that would desire to see it so. But, Paul assuages the doubts and fears that he might have had by declaring
God's ultimate power over death by raising the dead.

So, leading into our verse, Paul is talking about his troubles in seeking to preach the gospel to people like Corinth and others, but God is good to spare Paul's life out of the afflictions to that day.

Passing down to verse 11, Paul commends the Corinthian brethren for praying to this end that he would be delivered back to them in his preaching efforts. They desired to hear him again, observe the gift God gave him again, and offer up praise to God by way of worship. Now, should verse 10 really teach how it is most often applied, verse 11 would lay credit to the Corinthians for helping God in that endeavour.  However, in the subject of eternal saving from death and hell to grace and glory, God stands alone in that work. (Hebrews 1:3) So, based on the thought of this sentence, what is Paul talking about in verse 10?

The "so great a death" that Paul was delivered from was the corporeal death of his body. What makes that
so great a death is that it would deprive the brethren and churches of the gift that God had bestowed upon
him. Now, the church can make it without Paul. The church can make it without me. I have always
maintained that I need the church more than she needs me, and I feel the same would go for Paul, Peter, or
any other minister. But, the reason that the death is so great is that the church no longer has access to
that gift any more. That preacher is gone, and there are no two gifts exactly alike. So, it pleased God to
spare Paul's life up to that point for the work that He had called him to do. There was still need for him
to work as he was still in the flesh: at home in the body, as it were.

Paul trusted that the Lord still delivered him to that very hour. We sing a song that says, "Thus far the Lord has led me on. Thus far His pow'r prolongs my days." While we are at home in the body, we still have work to do. Paul was still labouring in the vineyard of the Lord, and he trusted that the Lord would continue to deliver him out of the mouth of the lion for the work at hand. It was right for the church to help in that endeavour and pray for his deliverance back into their fellowship. It is right for us today to pray for one another to be delivered back to fellowship. While that prayer for deliverance to fellowship may not come to pass, we joy in the fact that should the fellowship not continue (by reason of death), the deliverance has still come, and another weary soul is at rest.

May we pray today for deliverance in this fashion that the Lord would bless our efforts (ministers,
deacons, members, mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers alike) and deliver us from the wicked and
ungodly men that have not faith. May we pray that our efforts would please Him. May we also pray that we
acknowledge our past blessings as we should as He has delivered us to that point. Finally, may we pray that
our efforts of study not only find the right concepts, but may they find the right applications as well, but
thanks be unto His grand and matchless name that we are eternally secure in the arms of His love. No
power, foe, spirit, or creature can squelch that fire of love that God has for His people. You are secure
beloved. May our fires of service never grow cold for fear of natural death. He has seen fit to deliver us
thus far; pray that He continue to do so, and one sweet day, we will see Him where pain and sorrows are
no more.

In Hope,

Bro Philip