2 Corinthianschapter 1

A.The God of All Comfort and the Sentence of Death in Asiavv. 1-11

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which accomplishes in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we experience. 7 And our hope for you is sure, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort. 8 We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers.

B.Our Conscience Bears Witness: We Wrote Plainlyvv. 12-14

12 And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God. 13 For we do not write you anything that is beyond your ability to read and understand. And I hope that you will understand us completely, 14 as you have already understood us in part, so that you may boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of our Lord Jesus.

C.Not Yes and No: Why Paul Changed His Routevv. 15-24

15 Confident of this, I planned to visit you first, so that you might receive a double blessing. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to return to you from Macedonia, and then to have you help me on my way to Judea. 17 When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” when I really mean “No, no”? 18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.” 20 For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us, 22 placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come. 23 I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that you stand firm.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

Paul and Timothy greet the Corinthian and Achaian saints.

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Paul and Timothy greet the Corinthian and Achaian saints. Blessed be God, the Father of mercies, the God of all comfort. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may comfort others. Paul shares his pressed-out-of-measure trouble in Asia, despairing of life, that they should trust not in themselves but in God who raiseth the dead. He defends his change of travel plans: not yea and nay, but faithfulness to the gospel they heard. Henry reads the chapter as the theology of comfort grounded in Christ's trustworthiness.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Epistle · Paul — 2 Corinthians overview

A. 1–11 The God of All Comfort and the Sentence of Death in Asia
B. 12–14 Our Conscience Bears Witness: We Wrote Plainly
C. 15–24 Not Yes and No: Why Paul Changed His Route

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Philippians 14 verses
- Philippians 1:1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
- Philippians 1:2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Philippians 1:19because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
- Philippians 1:20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
- Read Philippians 1 →
Ephesians 13 verses
- Ephesians 1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
- Ephesians 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.
- Ephesians 1:13And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- Read Ephesians 1 →
Romans 13 verses
- Romans 1:7To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Romans 1:9God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
- Romans 1:11For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,
- Read Romans 1 →
1 Corinthians 43 verses
- 1 Corinthians 4:8Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!
- 1 Corinthians 4:19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.
- 1 Corinthians 4:21Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
- Read 1 Corinthians 4 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

1 John 23 verses
- 1 John 2:20You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
- 1 John 2:24As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If it does, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father.
- 1 John 2:27And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.
- Read 1 John 2 →
2 Corinthians 42 verses
- 2 Corinthians 4:7Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
- 2 Corinthians 4:15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
- Read 2 Corinthians 4 →
Romans 152 verses
- Romans 15:5Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus,
- Romans 15:29I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
- Read Romans 15 →
2 Timothy 22 verses
- 2 Timothy 2:10For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
- 2 Timothy 2:24And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
- Read 2 Timothy 2 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.