2 Corinthians 1:1-7
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Comfort in Suffering
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
Context
- Why did Paul write this letter? How is it different from 1 Corinthians? (Acts 9:16, 16, 18:1-18, 1 Corinthians 4:17)
Reflection
- How is God the Father of mercies? (Numbers 14:19, Lam 3:22, Nehemiah 9:19, Psalm 25:6, 51:1, 69:13, 103:10, 11, 106:7) And ‘God of all comfort? (Psalm 121:1, 2, Ephesians 1:3, Colossians 1:2, 1 Peter 1:3)
- Why should our sufferings be used to comfort for others? (Proverbs 27:17, 2 Corinthians 4:15)
- How does Jesus emulate this? (John 14:26, Hebrews 4:14-16, 1 Peter 2:21-24)
- How did the sufferings of Christ abound in Paul? (Acts 19:21, 1 Corinthians 15:30-32, 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Philippians 1:12-14, 3:10, 2 Timothy 2:10)
- Why does great suffering lead to great comfort? (Acts 14:22, Romans 5:3-5, Ephesians 3:22, Colossians 1:24)
Testimony Time
- What ‘idols of comfort’ do I need to repent of? (2 Corinthians 10:5)
- How has God comforted you? (Romans 8:31-34, 1 Corinthians 1:13, Hebrews 13:6)
- Who is He comforting ‘through’ you? (Philippians 4:9, Isaiah 40:1, 51:12, 66:13)