Free Bible Commentary
“2 Corinthians 1:1-7”
Categories: 2 Corinthians“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.”
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Paul’s opening statement is taken from the department of redundancy department. The word “comfort” is used 10 times in just 5 verses! Why do you think that is so? Did Paul not have a thesaurus handy and could think of no other word to use? Of course I am trying to be funny and of course there are no words that have accidentally found their way into the canon of Holy Scripture. The inspired Apostle is greatly emphasizing the fact that we have a God in heaven who loves and cares for us, and wants only what is best for us, and that we can always depend on Him to be there for us to comfort and carry us through life’s difficult moments.
As God comforts us in our times of trial, He also equips us with the experience and ability to comfort other people when they incur afflictions as well. Eric Parker wrote in his lesson book: “The basic theme of this first subsection is the unparalleled ability to comfort, of which God is the Possessor. The opening theme is no doubt an example for Corinth to follow, an admonition to the brethren, and an exhortation following Paul’s rebuke in earlier letters. The comfort that God possesses is to be replicated by His followers as we realize that God helped us in our hour of affliction. Paul has no qualms about calling the Corinthians to this service, nor should we.”
The Greek word for “comfort” is “paraklesis” and it means “a calling to one’s side” (Vine’s). This comes from the same family of words from which we get the word “Comforter” (parakletos). The Holy Spirit and Jesus are both referred to as “Comforters” in the New Testament (1 John 14:15-16). As the revelator of inspired Scripture, the Holy Spirit comforts us through the revealed word of God. “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). The word “encouragement” is the Greek word “paraklesis”.
The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 that God comforts us by His grace. “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” Notice that the comfort that the Lord provides is of the “eternal” variety. No matter what may happen to us in our earthly lives, we can take the greatest of comfort in knowing that, if we remain faithful to God until death, God will give us an eternal inheritance in heaven.
2 Thessalonians 2:17 also says that we are comforted “in every good work and word.” I’m not sure if this refers to God’s works and words or our works and words, but it works either way. All of God’s works and words are good, and they provide us with comfort and confidence in Him, and in the knowledge that He is more than capable of taking care of all of our physical and spiritual needs. And when we follow our heavenly Fathers’ example and do and say encouraging things to other people, that is a great source of comfort and edification for the recipients and for ourselves as well.
Please read 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
