John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 1:8

"For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell [us] in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life:" — 2 Corinthians 1:8 (ASV)

For I would not have you ignorant. He mentions the greatness and difficulty of his conflicts, so that the glory of victory may thereby appear more abundantly. Since he sent them the former epistle, he had been exposed to great dangers and had endured violent assaults.

However, the probability is that he refers here to the history Luke relates in Acts 19:23, though in that passage Luke does not so distinctly indicate the extent of the danger. Yet, since he states that the whole city was in a tumult (Acts 19:29), it is easy to infer the rest from this. For we know the usual effect of a popular tumult once it has been kindled.

By this persecution, Paul declares he had been oppressed beyond measure, even more, above strength, that is, so that he could not endure the burden. This is a metaphor taken from people who give way under the pressure of a heavy load, or from ships that sink from being overloaded—not that he had actually fainted, but that he felt his strength would have failed him if the Lord had not imparted fresh strength.

So that we were in anxiety even as to life itself—that is, “So that I thought life was gone, or at least I had very little hope of it remaining, as those usually feel who are trapped with no apparent way of escape.” Was then so valiant a soldier of Christ, so brave a wrestler, left without strength, so as to look for nothing but death?

For he mentions it as the reason for what he had stated—that he despaired of life. I have already observed that Paul does not measure his strength in connection with help from God, but according to his own personal feeling of his ability. Now, there can be no doubt that all human strength must give way before the fear of death. Furthermore, it is necessary that even saints themselves should be in danger of an entire failure of strength, so that, being reminded of their own weakness, they may learn, as what follows indicates, to place their entire dependence on God alone.

At the same time, I have preferred to explain the word ἐξαπορεῖσθαι, which Paul uses, as denoting a trembling anxiety, rather than render it, as Erasmus has done, by the word despair; because he simply means that he was hemmed in by the greatest difficulties, so that no means of preserving life seemed to remain.