Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Concerning our affliction (uper thv qliyewv hmwn). Manuscripts read also peri for in the Koin‚ uper (over) often has the idea of peri (around). Paul has laid down his philosophy of afflictions and now he cites a specific illustration in his own recent experience.
In Asia (en Asiai). Probably in Ephesus, but what it was we do not know whether sickness or peril. We do know that the disciples and the Asiarchs would not allow Paul to face the mob in the amphitheatre gathered by Demetrius (Acts 20:30 f.). In Romans 16:4 Paul says that Prisca and Aquila laid down their necks for him, risked their very lives for him. It may have been a later plot to kill Paul that hastened his departure from Ephesus (Acts 20:1). He had a trial so great that "we were weighed down exceedingly beyond our power" (kaq uperbolhn uper dunamin ebarhqhmen). Old verb from barov, weight, baruv, weighty. First aorist passive indicative. See on I Corinthians 12:31 for kaq uperbolhn (cf. our hyperbole). It was beyond Paul's power to endure if left to himself.
Insomuch that we despaired even of life (wste ecaporhqhnai hmav kai tou zhn). Usual clause of result with wste and the infinitive. First aorist passive infinitive ecaporhqhnai, late compound for utter despair (perfective use of ec and at a complete loss, a privative and porov, way). There seemed no way out.
Of life (tou zhn). Ablative case of the articular infinitive, of living.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 2 Corinthians 1:8:
Acts 20:18
Acts 20:23
1 Corinthians 15:30
1 Corinthians 16:9
2 Corinthians 6:9
2 Corinthians 8:3
1 Timothy 5:16
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