Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

Paul has supplied several reasons for refusing to grow discouraged in spite of seemingly overwhelming odds: (1) his divine commission as a minister of a new and superior covenant (4:1), (2) the prospect of sharing Christ’s triumphant resurrection from the dead (4:14), and (3) his immediate task of promoting the Corinthians’ spiritual welfare and the glory of God (4:15). But he was realistic enough to recognize that his toil and suffering had taken their toll on him physically. For this, however, there was splendid compensation. Matching the progressive weakening of his physical powers was the daily renewal of his spiritual powers. It was as though the more he expended himself for the Gospel’s sake (cf. 12:15), the greater his spiritual resilience (cf. Ephesians 3:16).