<p>4:8 <i>We are afflicted in every way, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not in despair- </i>Another allusion to the situation at Gideon's time (see on :7). &quot;Afflicted&quot; is from a Greek word meaning to make narrow; &quot;crushed&quot; is from a different Greek word which has a similar meaning. We are made narrow, hemmed in- but in another sense we are not. We are gloriously free. Likewise in a sense Paul was in despair (s.w. 2 Cor. 1:8); but not in another. He uses the same word for &quot;perplexed&quot; in writing of his despair at the Galatians' loss of faith and moral declension (Gal. 4:20). We see here the two poles in his attitude to the Corinthians- despairing at them, and yet from a spiritual perspective, very positive about them.</p>