Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Corinthians 4:16

"Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day." — 2 Corinthians 4:16 (ASV)

For which cause. With such an object in view, and sustained by such elevated purposes and desires. The meaning is that the purpose of trying to save as many as possible would make toil easy and privations welcome, and would be so accompanied by the grace of God as to gird the soul with strength and fill it with abundant consolations.

We faint not. For an explanation of the word used here, see the comments on 2 Corinthians 4:1.

We are not exhausted, desponding, or disheartened. We are sustained, encouraged, and emboldened by having such an object in view.

But though our outward man perish. By "outward man," Paul evidently means the body. By using the phrases "the outward man" and "the inward man," he shows that he believed that man was made up of two parts: body and soul. He was no materialist.

He has described these two parts as constituting man, so distinct that while the one perishes, the other is renewed; while the one is enfeebled, the other is strengthened; while the one grows old and decays, the other renews its youth and is invigorated.

Of course, the soul is not dependent on the body for its rigor and strength, since it expands while the body decays; and, of course, the soul may exist independently of the body and in a separate state.

Perish. It grows old; becomes weak and feeble; loses its rigor and elasticity under the many trials we endure and under the infirmities of advancing years. It is a characteristic of the "outer man" that it thus perishes. Great as its rigor may be, yet it must decay and die. It cannot long bear up under the trials of life and the wear and tear of constant action, but must soon sink to the grave.

Yet the inward man. The soul; the undecaying, the immortal part.

Is renewed. It is renovated, strengthened, invigorated. His powers of mind expanded; his courage became bolder; he had clearer views of truth; he had more faith in God.

As he drew nearer to the grave and to heaven, his soul was more raised above the world, and he was more filled with the joys and triumphs of the gospel.

The understanding and the heart did not sympathize with the suffering and decaying body; but, while that became feeble, the soul acquired new strength and was becoming fit for its flight to the eternal world.

This verse is an ample refutation of the doctrine of the materialist and proves that there is in man something distinct from decaying and dying matter, and that there is a principle that may gain augmented strength and power while the body dies. (Compare to the comments on Romans 7:22).

Day by day. Constantly. There was a daily and constant increase of inward rigor.

God imparted to him constant strength in his trials and sustained him with the hopes of heaven, as the body was decaying and tending to the grave.

The sentiment of this verse is that in an effort to do good and to promote the salvation of man, the soul will be sustained in trials and will be comforted and invigorated even when the body is weary, grows old, decays, and dies.

It is the testimony of Paul respecting his own experience, and it is a fact that has been experienced by thousands in their efforts to do good and to save the souls of men from death.