2 Coríntios 1
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Coríntios 1
Guzik - Even though the resurrection is a future event, there is a sense in which the reality and power of the resurrection touches every day for the suffering Christian. As we know by the power of His resurrection we will also be blessed by the fellowship of His sufferings. (Philippians 3:10, cf "surpassing greatness of His power" in Eph 1:19-20+) (2 Corinthians 1) When we are most helpless we are also most dependent! -- Brian Bell William
2 Coríntios 1
Guzik - Paul considers the Father a comforter, a Paraclete (paraklesis). We also know that the Holy Spirit is our Paraclete (John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7) and that God the Son is our Paraclete (1 John 2:1+ = "we have an Advocate [paraklesis] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous", Luke 2:25+ = "the Consolation [paraklesis] of Israel, cf Hebrews 2:18+). God, in every aspect of His being, is full of comfort, strength, and help for us. (HALLELUJAH! AMEN!) Our Trials can never exceed the Ability of God to Comfort. --Paul Apple Blessed (2128) eulogetos (English = eulogy) from eulogeo = to bless <> eú = good, well + logos = word) is a verbal adjective which means to be well spoken of or inherently worthy of praise. All the uses of eulogetos refer to man blessing God the One Who is "well spoken of". Eulogetos thus indicates praise and adoration on the part of the creature, in recognition of the power and prerogatives of the Creator, and the privileges enjoyed at His hands. In Mk 14:61 eulogetos is aptly used as a Name of God the Father "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Discovery Bible has an interesting note on eulogetos - "To bless" someone is different than praising them. A blesser gives something away (a part of themselves) to confer benefit through a personal commitment.In contrast, praise means to acknowledge (give recognition). In sum, "blessing God" means consecrating ourselves to the Lord in true commitment, "offering ourselves up" because God is worthy of all our surrender ("sweet abandon") – i.e. "giving ourselves away." Interesting thought! Eulogetos - 8x in NT all of God and in context most refer to God the Father - Mk. 14:61; Lk. 1:68; Ro 1:25; Ro 9:5; 2 Co. 1:3; 2 Co. 11:31; Eph 1:3; 1 Pe 1:3 Mercies (3628) oiktirmos from oikteiro = to have compassion {only in Ro 9:15+} in turn derived from oiktos = compassion or pity which in turn is said to be derived from the interjection oi = "Oh!") denotes the inward feeling of compassion which abides in the heart. It represents the display of concern over or compassion with another’s misfortune. In Classic Greek oiktirmos is a poetic form of oiktos that denotes the lamenting that occurred at the death or misfortune of another. It expresses the sympathy and pity one felt towards another that often manifested itself in some form of assistance. Compassion (from Latin com = with + pati = to bear, suffer - thus literally to "bear with" or "to suffer with") is a sympathetic consciousness of other's distress together with a desire to alleviate it and in the case of God, with the ability to in fact do so! The meaning of oiktirmos is like splagchnon, related primarily the viscera, which were thought to be the seat of compassion. The word came to signify manifestations of pity and refers to the pity that is aroused by the sight of another's suffering, in this case God being the One Who sees us in dire straits and in need of His boundless mercies. With God as our Example believers are exhorted to “put on” a heart of compassion (Colossians 3:12+). Oiktirmos - 5x in 5v - Ro 12:1; 2Cor 1:3; Phil 2:1; Col 3:12; Heb 10:28. NAS = compassion(2), mercies(2), mercy(1). God is the Father of...of mercies (2 Cor. 1:3), ...of glory (Eph. 1:17 cf. Acts 7:2; 1Cor. 2:8), ...of all (Eph. 4:6), ...of spirits (Heb. 12:9; Rev. 22:6), ...of light (Jas 1:17), ....of our Lord Jesus Christ,” again and again in Paul’s writings, Full title of Lord Jesus Christ is found 63x in the NT - Acts 11:17; Acts 15:26; Acts 20:21; Acts 28:31; Rom. 1:7; Rom. 5:1; Rom. 5:11; Rom. 13:14; Rom. 15:6; Rom. 15:30; Rom. 16:24; 1 Co. 1:2; 1 Co. 1:3; 1 Co. 1:7; 1 Co. 1:8; 1 Co. 1:10; 1 Co. 6:11; 1 Co. 8:6; 1 Co. 15:57; 2 Co. 1:2; 2 Co. 1:3; 2 Co. 8:9; 2 Co. 13:14; Gal. 1:3; Gal. 6:14; Gal. 6:18; Eph. 1:2; Eph. 1:3; Eph. 1:17; Eph. 5:20; Eph. 6:23; Eph. 6:24; Phil. 1:2; Phil. 3:20; Phil. 4:23; Col. 1:3; 1 Thess. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:3; 1 Thess. 5:9; 1 Thess. 5:23; 1 Thess. 5:28; 2 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess. 1:12; 2 Thess. 2:1; 2 Thess. 2:14; 2 Thess. 2:16; 2 Thess. 3:6; 2 Thess. 3:12; 2 Thess. 3:18; 1 Tim. 6:3; 1 Tim. 6:14; Phlm. 1:3; Phlm. 1:25; Jas. 1:1; Jas. 2:1; 1 Pet. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16; Jude 1:4; Jude 1:17; Jude 1:21 Utley on Lord Jesus Christ points out that "These three (cf. 2Co. 1:2; 2Co. 1:3; 2Co. 8:9; 2Co. 13:14) titles all have individual significance. “Christ” is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah ( mashiach/masiyah - an Anointed One). It asserts Jesus’ OT title as YHWH’s promised One sent to set up the new age of righteousness. “Jesus” is the name given to the baby in Bethlehem by the angel (cf. Mt. 1:21). It is made up of two Hebrew nouns: “YHWH,” the covenant name for deity, and “salvation” (hosea). It is the same Hebrew name as Joshua. When used alone it often identifies the man, Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary (ex. Mt. 1:16, 25; 2:1; 3:13, 15, 16). Lord” (used in 2Co 1:1KJV) is the translation of the Hebrew term 'adon, which meant “owner, husband, master, or lord.” The Jews became afraid of pronouncing the sacred name YHWH lest they take it in vain and break one of the Ten Commandments. Whenever they read the Scriptures, they substituted 'Adon for YHWH. This is why our English translations use the all-capital LORD for YHWH in the OT. By transferring this title (kurios in Greek) to Jesus, the NT authors assert His deity and equality with the Father. Phillip Brooks - The more varied and manifold a man’s experiences have become, the more he has the chance to know of God, the more chance God has to show Himself to him. Every new experience is a new opportunity of knowing God. Every experience is like a jewel set in the texture of our life, on which God shines and makes interpretation and revelation of Himself. Take My Hand Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. —2 Corinthians 1:3 Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:2-6 You never know when you’ll need the Lord’s comfort the most—when God’s care will be your only hope to face tomorrow. One day in 1932, pianist, singer, and songwriter Thomas A. Dorsey discovered his need for God’s comfort. He left his pregnant wife Nettie at home in Chicago while he drove his Model A to St. Louis to sing at a revival meeting. All went well, and the crowd responded enthusiastically. At the end of Dorsey’s performance, he received a telegram with the tragic news that his wife had died in childbirth. Within hours, the baby boy also died. Filled with grief, Dorsey sought answers. Should he have stayed in Chicago and not gone to St. Louis? Had God done him an injustice? A few days after Nettie’s death, Dorsey sat down at the piano and began to play. Finally sensing God’s peace and closeness, he began to sing some new words and play a new song: Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand; I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light; Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. When God permits trials, He also provides comfort. Little Things The Father of mercies and God of all comfort . . . comforts us in all our tribulation. —2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 A medical school program in New York gives students who are training for geriatric medicine a unique opportunity. They experience life as nursing home residents for 10 days. They learn some of the struggles of maneuvering a wheelchair and being raised out of bed with a lift, as well as reaching the shower bar from a seated position. One student learned how little things counted for a lot—like lowering nameplates on doors so that patients can find their rooms more easily, or putting the TV remote in a reachable location. Although the students still can’t fully relate, they will be better able to serve the elderly in their future work. Sometimes God gives us the opportunity to use the lessons we’ve learned and the comfort He’s given us during difficult times to help others in special ways. Paul indicated this when he wrote: “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 tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble” (2 Cor. 1:3-4). The comfort God has given us He wants us now to share With others who are suffering So they will sense His care. —Sper God doesn’t comfort us to make us comfortable; He comforts us to make us comforters. David Jeremiah - GOD ENCOURAGES; YOU SHOULD TOO 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3 Blessed be the God … the Father of mercies. In the New Testament, each member of the triune God (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit) places a priority on encouragement. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Blessed be the God, … the Father of mercies [encouragement]” (2 Corinthians 1:3). In one of his letters to the Thessalonians, Paul reminded his readers that Jesus Christ is also, at the very core of His ministry, an encourager (2 Thessalonians 2:16–17). And what can we say about the Holy Spirit? “Encourager” is one of His names! The King James Bible says of the Holy Spirit (in John 14 and 16), “However when He the Comforter is come.… ” The title “Comforter” translates the word paraklete, which means “to encourage.” When we encourage people, we live out the ministry of the third Person of the Trinity. He is the Encourager. God the Father encourages. God the Son encourages. God the Holy Spirit encourages. We need to be encouragers because encouragement is one of the primary ministries—in fact, it’s a priority of our triune God. (Sanctuary) A Call To Comfort Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. — 2 Corinthians 1:3 Today's Scripture & Insight: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 In their book Dear Mrs. Kennedy, Jay Mulvaney and Paul De Angelis note that during the weeks following the assassination of US President John Kennedy, his widow, Jacqueline, received nearly one million letters from people in every part of the world. Some came from heads of state, celebrities, and close friends. Others were sent by ordinary people who addressed them to “Madame Kennedy, Washington” and “Mrs. President, America.” All wrote to express their grief and sympathy for her great loss. When people suffer and we long to help, it’s good to recall Paul’s word-picture of “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” as “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). Our heavenly Father is the ultimate source of every tender mercy, kind word, and helpful act that brings encouragement and healing. Bible scholar W. E. Vine says that paraklesis—the Greek word translated “comfort”—means “a calling to one’s side.” The words comfort and consolation appear repeatedly in today’s Bible reading as a reminder that the Lord holds us close and invites us to cling to Him. Father, thank You for letting us share with You our worries and cares. We’re grateful that You stand beside us to comfort and guide. Help us to console others as You look out for Your own. God comforts us so that we can comfort others. Learning To Comfort Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. —2 Corinthians 1:3 Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 When she heard that her best friend’s baby died, Andra didn’t know what to do. Should she call her friend right away or wait a few days? What should she say? She asked her mother, Mary Farr, a children’s hospital chaplain, for advice. “Phone her now,” her mother said. “Tell her you love her and that you’ll call back later.” Andra followed that advice, and it meant a great deal to her friend. How should we respond when those we care about suffer a loss? 2 Corinthians 1:4 tells us that God “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.” It’s in God’s school of comfort that we learn to better understand the needs of those who hurt. Mary Farr writes, “We live in a fragile and imperfect world tinged by brokenness and cloaked in unanswered questions. Some things truly aren’t fair. This is hard.” She encourages people to resist the temptation to fill the silence with talk. Instead, we need to be comfortable with saying, “I don’t know,” and not try to provide easy answers. And when there’s nothing to say, just sit together. The comfort God has given us He wants us now to share With others who are suffering And caught in life's despair. —Sper God comforts us to make us comforters. Culprit Or Comfort? God . . . comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble. —2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Today's Scripture: Job 22:1-30 When we experience adversity and trials, we may blame ourselves and feel we have done something wrong to deserve punishment. While honest self-examination is healthy, we should not become preoccupied with our faults and failures. It’s even worse if someone else tries to load guilt on us when we are going through a tough time. That was the mistake of Job’s friend Eliphaz, a man with a high view of God and a great respect for His moral standards. He correctly observed that when we do what’s right we are doing only what God requires. Therefore, we shouldn’t expect special praise or reward (Job 22:3). But Eliphaz mistakenly insisted that Job’s trouble was the result of his own wickedness (v.5). He was also wrong in promising Job that God would bless him and give him immediate relief if he would repent. Most of our troubles are the result of living in an imperfect world. God uses these adversities, however, to prepare us to help others. Paul said that God comforted him in his trials so that he could comfort others (2 Cor. 1:3-4). Oh, comfort us, Lord, when life's trials assail— How often we stumble, how often we fail; But You would renew us, and help us to grow That others Your goodness and comfort may know. —DJD God can transform trials into triumphs. Coming Alongside Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, . . . who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Today's Scripture & Insight: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 When my sister Carole was diagnosed with breast cancer, our family worried. That diagnosis, with its surgeries and treatments, caused us to fear for her well-being, which drove our family to prayer on her behalf. Over the ensuing months, Carole’s updates were honest about the challenges. But we all celebrated when the report came back that the surgery and treatments had been successful. Carole was on the road to recovery! Then, less than a year later, my sister Linda faced the same battle. Immediately, Carole came alongside Linda, helping her understand what to expect and how to prepare for what she would face. Carole’s experience had equipped her to walk with Linda through her own trial. This is what Paul calls for in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, where we read, “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 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.” Today, how can I be an encouragement to others whose hearts are weighed down by the cares of life? God’s presence brings us comfort; our presence brings others comfort. Healing From Heaven Blessed be . . . the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. — 2 Corinthians 1:3 Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-10 Thomas Moore (1779–1852) was an Irish songwriter, singer, and poet. His talents brought joy to many who saw him perform or who sang his music. Yet, tragically, his personal life was troubled by repeated heartaches, including the death of all five of his children during his lifetime. Moore’s personal wounds make these words of his all the more meaningful: “Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish; earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” This moving statement reminds us that meeting with God in prayer can bring healing to the troubled soul. The apostle Paul also saw how our heavenly Father can provide solace to the hurting heart. To the believers at Corinth he wrote: “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 tribulation” (2 Cor. 1:3-4). Sometimes, though, we can be so preoccupied with an inner sorrow that we isolate ourselves from the One who can offer consolation. We need to be reminded that God’s comfort and healing come through prayer. Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow! How the heart yearningly turns to His rest! Often when earth has no balm for my healing, There I find comfort, and there I am blessed. —Cushing Prayer is the soil in which hope and healing grow best. Unexpected Grief Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. —2 Corinthians 1:3 Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 But on June 6, 2002, I found myself unable to offer help. On the last day of her junior year of high school, our 17-year-old daughter Melissa was killed in a car accident. In one horrible instant, everything we knew about God and the Bible and heaven was put to the test. We needed the Christian community to guide us toward hope as we stood at the funeral of a beloved young woman who had touched so many lives with her smile, her godliness, her love of life, and her care for others. For many weeks, I couldn’t write. What could I say? How could I find words to help others when my family—when I—needed so much? I have been through the valley of weeping, The valley of sorrow and pain; But the God of all comfort was with me, At hand to uphold and sustain. —Anon. When God permits trials, He also provides comfort. When The Wind Blows Blessed be the . . . God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation. — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Today's Scripture: Romans 8:26-30 Harold and Cathy and their two sons were in a wooded area in Minnesota when a tornado touched down. Cathy described her experience to me several years later: “My husband and older son were some distance away, but my younger son and I took cover in a cabin. We heard a sound like a hundred railroad cars and instinctively dropped to the floor in a tucked position. The cabin began to break apart, and I shut my eyes because of all the flying debris. It felt like I was going up in an elevator and then was shot into the air. I landed in a lake and clung to debris to stay afloat.” Tragically, however, their younger son did not survive. Harold said of their loss: “We cried every day for 6 weeks. But we believe that God’s loving sovereignty allowed that tornado to come down where we were. And we also took comfort in the fact that our son knew the Lord.” When we sustain a heartbreaking loss, When grief overwhelms our soul, The Savior who gave Himself on the cross Reminds us that He’s in control. —D. De Haan Our greatest comfort in sorrow is to know that God is in control. What We Need The heartbreaking stories keep coming. The friend whose grown daughter has left her husband and kids. The dads I recently met who lost their teen sons in car accidents. The pillar of the church whose retirement years have been marked by a string of bad medical news. You know the stories. You may ha ve your own. Where do we go for help when struggles and pain threaten to shake our faith and steal our last ounce of joy? Second Corinthians 1:3 may be just the right destination. It is full of hope, help, and possibilities. Examine what that verse tells us: Paul lifts praise to God on two levels (and remember, Paul had more struggles and trouble than most of us could stand). First, he simply sends praise to God, who is not just our God but the God and Father of Jesus Himself. Think about the power and the love behind that! Then he gives us even better news: Our heavenly Father is the God of mercy and compassion. He cares for us with an everlasting, gracious love. And there’s more—He is also the God of all comfort. I must have the Savior with me, For my faith at best is weak; He will whisper words of comfort, That no other voice can speak. —Crosby God’s whisper of comfort helps quiet the noise of our trials. 2 Corinthians 1:4 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. KJV 2 Corinthians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. NET 2 Corinthians 1:4 who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. BGT 2 Corinthians 1:4 ὁ παρακαλῶν ἡμᾶς ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ θλίψει ἡμῶν εἰς τὸ δύνασθαι ἡμᾶς παρακαλεῖν τοὺς ἐν πάσῃ θλίψει διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως ἧς παρακαλούμεθα αὐτοὶ ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ. NLT 2 Corinthians 1:4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. ESV 2 Corinthians 1:4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. NIV 2 Corinthians 1:4 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. GNT 2 Corinthians 1:4 ὁ παρακαλῶν ἡμᾶς ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ θλίψει ἡμῶν εἰς τὸ δύνασθαι ἡμᾶς παρακαλεῖν τοὺς ἐν πάσῃ θλίψει διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως ἧς παρακαλούμεθα αὐτοὶ ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ. YLT 2 Corinthians 1:4 who is comforting us in all our tribulation, for our being able to comfort those in any tribulation through the comfort with which we are comforted ourselves by God; ASV 2 Corinthians 1:4 who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. CSB 2 Corinthians 1:4 He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. MIT 2 Corinthians 1:4 consoled us in all of our trouble that we might be able to encourage those undergoing every distress. We do this by drawing on the solace that came to us when we ourselves were consoled by God. Who comforts us: 2Co 7:6-7 Ps 86:17 Isa 12:1 49:10 51:3,12 52:9 66:12,13 Joh 14:16 Joh 14:18,26 2Th 2:16,17 so that : 2Co 1:5,6 Ps 32:5,7 34:2-6 66:16 Isa 40:1 66:14 Php 1:14 1Th 4:18 1Th 5:11 Heb 12:12 2 Corinthians 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Corinthians 7:6 But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; GOD COMFORTS US IN EVERY AFFLICTION Who comforts us in all our affliction (see thlipsis below) - Mark it down that Paul has experienced God's comfort so he is abundantly qualified to speak about this subject from his manifold experiences! Parakaleo is used three times in this one verse! Comforts is present tense indicating God is continually able to provide comfort. Recall the verb parakaleo pictures another (in this case the Spirit of God) called to one's side. BDAG says it means to "ask to come and be present where the speaker is." So the question arises as to when did God comfort Paul ("us" - presumably included Timothy with Paul at Philippi)? Recall that Paul had written First Corinthians in the Spring of AD 55 while in Ephesus but did not know what effect it had had on the Corinthian church. A riot in Ephesus forced him escape with his life fleeing to Philippi. While at Philippi Titus came to him with news that Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians had good effect on the church. This is one of certainly many times when God comforted Paul as we see in 2 Cor 7:6-7+ where he wrote "God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more." You’ve heard of “Creature Comfort”?… Well, the best comfort for the creature is from his Creator! -- Brian Bell Note - paraklesis (6x in 5v - 2Co 1:3, 4, 5, 6 -twice, 2Co1:7) and Parakaleo (3x in 2Co 1:4, 2Co 1:6) are key words in 2Co 1:3-11 - total of 9 times. These words are also the key terms throughout chapters 1–9, where it is used twenty-five times. Affliction (thlipsis) means pressure or crushing and was used of squeezing grapes to make wine or of crushing wheat to make flour, both excellent word pictures to remind us of the potential value of affliction in a believer's life. thlipsis is clearly a keyword in 2 Corinthians occurring 9x in 8v (out of a total of 45x in 43v in the entire NT), so almost 25% of the uses of thlipsis are found in this epistle. - 2Co. 1:4; 2Co. 1:8; 2Co. 2:4; 2Co. 4:17; 2Co. 6:4; 2Co. 7:4; 2Co. 8:2; 2Co. 8:13. Some of Paul's uses seem to describe emotional affliction (2Co 2:4, 2Co 11:28), but others imply physical affliction (e.g, 2Co 1:8). Some of Paul's uses of thlipsis are difficult to differentiate and may indicate both physical and emotional affliction. This would make sense because when we are physically afflicted, there is invariably an emotional response to that affliction. Brian Bell - Sufferings are not accidents but divine appointments. To follow Christ is to follow Him into suffering! (ED: cf Mk 8:34+ - "take up your cross" = shame, suffering, rejection) Ray Stedman on comforts...affliction -Two words, affliction, and comfort, stand out repeatedly in that passage; and the two always go together: Affliction is what we today would probably call pressure, or stress. It is what many of you, perhaps, are feeling right now when you think about going to work tomorrow. It is whatever ties knots in your stomach and makes you feel anxious or troubled about what lies ahead. It is what makes for hectic days and for sleepless nights. It gnaws continually at your mind and threatens your well-being; it refuses to go away and leave you alone; it depresses you and darkens the future with forebodings of disaster. Now that is pressure, stress, and we all live in it. But they were not any different in the 1st century. They lived under pressure and stress just as we do. Paul experienced it as well, but along with it he experienced the comfort of God. Now, comfort is more than just a little cheer or friendly word of encouragement. Paul does not mean that. The word basically means "to strengthen." What Paul experienced was the strengthening of God to give him a peaceful, restful spirit to meet the pressure and the stress with which he lived. That is what Christianity is all about. "Strengthen," in the Greek, is a word that is used also for the Holy Spirit. Your Bible frequently calls him "The Comforter," but really it is "The Strengthener," the one who strengthens you. This is God's provision for affliction. It is amazing to me how many thousands of Christians are dreading facing their daily lives because they feel pressured and stressful and tied up in knots, and yet they never avail themselves of God's provision for that kind of pressure. These words are not addressed to us merely to be used for religious problems. They are to be used for any kind of stress, any kind of problems. God's comfort, God's strengthening, is available for whatever puts you under stress. (Why Does It Hurt so Much?) Henry Alford on Paul's use of first person plural (us, our, we) - The Apostle in this Epistle uses mostly the first person plural, perhaps as including Timothy, perhaps, inasmuch as he writes apostolically (compare “us the apostles,” said of himself and Apollos, 1Cor. 4:9), as speaking of the Apostles in common. This however will not explain all places where it occurs elsewhere: e.g. 1Th 2:18, “We would have come to you, even I Paul, once and again,”—where see note. So that after all perhaps it is best to regard it merely as an idiomatic way of speaking, when often only the singular is intended.
2 Coríntios 1
Guzik - Paul’s introduction of himself as an apostle is both familiar and necessary because he was held in low regard among the Christians in Corinth. They had to remember and recognize his apostolic credentials....Paul was not an apostle by the decision or desire of any man, including himself. Paul was an apostle by the will of God. Even if the Corinthian Christians held him in low regard, it did not diminish his standing as an apostle before God. Ray Stedman on Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus - Paul says that he is not the representative of the churches; he is the Lord's apostle. His authority does not come from the church, or any members of the church, but from the Lord himself. This was a very strong point with Paul....When you read Paul you are reading what Jesus said to him; therefore it comes with the full authority of the Lord Jesus himself. (Why Does It Hurt so Much?) Brian Bell thinks that "There was actually 4 letters written by Paul to Corinth that we know of: 1. The 1st we don’t have; the 2nd letter written was our 1 Cor.; the 3rd we don’t have(mentioned 2 Co 2:4-11, scholars have named it the “severe” letter); & this letter was the 4th letter, written from Macedonia & sent to Corinth by Titus. 1st Cor. was Practical; 2nd Cor. is Personal. Purpose of this letter - to affirm his ministry, defend his authority as an apostle, to prepare them for his visit, and refute false teachers. Key word – Comfort (29 x’s in 2 Cor.) 1. Yet many references to “suffering” also. – We’ll see they often go hand in hand! Paul addresses one of the oldest questions of man…“Why suffering?” His answer is 3-fold: Christians Need Comfort; Christians Receive Comfort; Christians Share Comfort. …Comfort/Παρακaλεw – (Para = alongside; Kaleo = to call) “to call alongside.” Thus, comfort is given by someone called alongside to help. a) Like a nurse called to a patient's bedside. Everyone needs comfort! - [Jesus in Gethsemane. Paul. To the disciples Jesus said He would send them “the comforter”] When tragedy strikes, when our life collapses before our eyes, that’s when we need someone to come alongside & put an arm around us! By the will of God repeatedly describes God's will that Paul be Christ's apostle (5x - 1 Co. 1:1; 2 Co. 1:1 Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 2 Ti 1:1) The mission assignment was not one Paul himself had chosen, but one which God had "willed" to him. It was God's will signifying His gracious disposition toward Paul. The idea is that God Himself did this of His own good pleasure. THOUGHT - Are you seeking some position in ministry? Perhaps the best way to do that is seek God's will, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (cf Mt 6:33+, Ro 12:2+) And Timothy our brother (cf 2Co 1:19+, 1Co 4:17+, 1Co 16:10+) - Sosthenes not mentioned here but was in 1 Cor 1:1. Elsewhere Paul referred to Timothy as his "son" (1Ti 1:18, 2Ti 1:2), clearly speaking of Paul as Timothy's "spiritual father" and the one who discipled him, because his physical father was a Greek (Acts 16:1+). In Acts 19:22+ we read "And having sent into Macedonia (map) two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while." And so at the time of the writing of 2 Corinthians Timothy was with Paul (presumably in Philippi). Related Resource: Utley's Special Topic Timothy Who was Timothy in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org What can we learn from what the Bible says about Paul and Timothy? | GotQuestions.org To the church (ekklesia) of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia (see map - would include Athens Acts 17:34+ and Cenchrea Ro 16:1+) - Note not "Paul's" church but God's church. Also note the emphasis on the Body of Christ, not on individuals. The Church is composed of holy ones, saints, men and women set apart from this profane, passing away world (1 Jn 2:17+) and unto God for His possession and purpose. The phrase indicates this epistle was not to be restricted to the local church at Corinth but was to be shared with other assemblies of Christ in the province of Achaia. Guzik - It is remarkable that Paul freely calls the Corinthian Christians saints, considering their many problems. We often use the term saints in a different way today, applying it to the “super-spiritual” instead of those who are simply set apart by a relationship of trust in Jesus Christ. THOUGHT - If you are in Christ by grace through faith, you are a "holy one," (you can call each other "Saint ___" fill in your name!) and that is your position in time and for all time (cf eternal security)! But this glorious designation begs the solemn question, does your (my) PRACTICE (cf "present tense salvation") match your (my) POSITION? In other words, as you are daily, moment by moment supernaturally enabled by the indwelling Holy Spirit, are you (am I) living a holy life in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, doing so for the glory of God? Or let me ask it another way, have you possessed your position as saint? In other words saint refers to a position to be possessed. Practical Christianity is as much about getting us into heaven (that's a certainty) as it is about getting heaven into us (possessing our possessions like Eph 1:3+, 2Pe 1:3+, etc). Finally, the fact that Paul encourages this factious, prideful church by calling them “saints,” in spite of their failures and sins, should be an encouragement to all of us who so often fall short of our privileged position as saints. Holy (40) hagios = set apart ones, separated ones, sanctified ones, holy ones) is literally a holy one and properly means different, set apart, distinct, holy. It describes one who is set apart for or by God and can be brought near or into God's holy presence. Its fundamental idea is separation, consecration, devotion to the service of Deity, sharing in God's purity and abstaining from earth's defilement." (Zodhiates) The designation of believers as saints should always remind us of the radical change which we have experienced by grace through faith in Christ (2 Cor 5:17+; 1Cor 6:11+). Here are all uses of hagios in 2 Corinthians - 2 Co. 1:1; 2 Co. 6:6; 2 Co. 8:4; 2 Co. 9:1; 2 Co. 9:12; 2 Co. 13:12; 2 Co. 13:13; 2 Co. 13:14+, this last being one of the best! = "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." Apostle (652) apostolos from apo = from + stello = send forth) (Click discussion of apostle) means one sent forth from by another, often with a special commission to represent another and to accomplish his work. It can be a delegate, commissioner, ambassador sent out on a mission or orders or commission and with the authority of the one who sent him. Apostolos referred to someone who was officially commissioned to a position or task, such as an envoy. Cargo ships were sometimes called apostolic, because they were dispatched with a specific shipment for a specific destination. In secular Greek apostolos was used of an admiral of a fleet sent out by the king on special assignment. In the ancient world a apostle was the personal representatives of the king, functioning as an ambassador with the king’s authority and provided with credentials to prove he was the king's envoy. A good parallel of apostle is our English word ambassador defined by Webster as "a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government as the resident representative of his own government for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment". (cf Ep 6:20+) In sum in Paul's epistles apostle epitomizes Paul’s commission and mission. Paul's uses of apostle in 2 Corinthians - 2 Co. 1:1; 2 Co. 8:23; 2 Co. 11:5; 2 Co. 11:13; 2 Co. 12:11; 2 Co. 12:12 Related Resources: Torrey's Topic = Apostle Easton's Dictionary International Std Bible Encyclopedia Holman Bible Dictionary Will (2307) thelema from thelo = to will with the "-ma" suffix indicating the result of the will = "a thing willed") generally speaks of the result of what one has decided. Thelema refers to a strong desire and the willing of some event, certainly apropos to this use in 2 Cor 1:1. Most of the NT uses of thelema (over 3/4's) refer to God's will and signify His gracious disposition toward something. God's will usually refers to what He has decreed, but occasionally God's will refers to what He desires but has not decreed (Mt 18:14). Utley Paul was being viciously attacked by a minority within the church. The minority seems to be both from the local Corinthian congregation and an itinerant Jewish group. Their charges were: Paul had impure motives, 2Co 1:12 Paul was fickle, 2Co 1:15ff Paul was weak, 2Co 10:10 Paul was physically ugly, 2Co 10:10 Paul was not a good orator, 2Co 10:10; 11:16 Paul preached for money 2Co 11:7ff; 12:13ff Paul was not a true apostle, 2Co 11:5, 13; 12:4 Paul was not an orthodox Jew, 2Co 11:21ff they had direct revelation, but Paul did not, 2Co 12:1ff. THE SUFFERING CHRISTIAN 2 Corinthians 1:1–24 I. THE PERSON—vv. 1–2 1. People—v. 1. Writing to Timothy, Corinthians, plus all other Asian churches. 2. Peace—v. 2. May god bless and use you mightily. II. THE PARTAKERS—vv. 3–7 1. Purpose—vv. 3–4. Troubles “build up” the Christian in the faith, then we may help others. 2. Promise—v. 5. The greater the trial or suffering, the more strength He gives to overcome. 3. Problems—vv. 6–7. We face problems when we do God’s will. The closer we walk, the greater the troubles. III. THE POWER—vv. 8–11 1. Suffering—v. 8. Paul suffered much for the gospel. He almost lost his life for the truth. 2. Strength—v. 9. Suffering created faith in Paul’s life. He put his trust in Christ. 3. Salvation—v. 10. God didn’t remove the sufferings, but was with him through the sufferings. 4. Sharing—v. 11. Share in God’s work by praying. IV. THE PRACTICE—vv. 12–14 1. Spiritual—v. 12. Paul was sincere and honest. Because of this, God gave him wisdom. 2. Simplicity—vv. 13–14. Paul’s words were simple. V. THE PROBLEM—vv. 15–24 1. Plan—vv. 15–16 Paul planned to see the Macedonians. 2. Problem—vv. 17–18. Paul did not “double—talk.” 3. Person—vv. 19–20. God always keeps His Word. 4. Plan—vv. 21–24. Called to preach, Paul explains that praying creates joy and peace. 2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. KJV 2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. NET 2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! BGT 2 Corinthians 1:2 χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. NLT 2 Corinthians 1:2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. ESV 2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. NIV 2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. GNT 2 Corinthians 1:2 χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. YLT 2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ! ASV 2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. CSB 2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. MIT 2 Corinthians 1:2 May grace and peace be yours from God our father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Ro 1:7 2Sa 15:20 1Ch 12:18 Da 4:1 1Co 1:3 Ga 6:16 Eph 6:23 Php 1:2 Col 1:2 1Th 1:1 2Th 1:2 Phm 1:3 2 Corinthians 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DIVINE FOUNTAIN OF GRACE AND PEACE Grace to you and peace from God our Father (pater) and the Lord (kurios) Jesus (Iesous) Christ (Christos) - The divine Source. Grace always precedes peace, for without God's gift of grace, we would never experience God's peace (cf 2Cor 8:9+ > Ro 4:25+ > Ro 5:1+). Grace is the foundation for peace. Both grace and peace are from the Father and Son. And while not mentioned, the Spirit is the dispenser (like a "Chief Operating Officer") of these benefits to our heart and mind (cf Acts 9:31, Ro 8:6, Ro 14:17, Gal 5:22+) Notice the preceding preposition from (apo) which serves to indissolubly link (one preposition preceding two objects) God the Father with the Lord Jesus Christ, and emphasizes the deity of Jesus and was a common way to assert Jesus’ deity (cf. 1Th 1:1; 1Th 3:11; 2Th 1:2, 12; 2Th 2:16). God is their (and our) Father as John writes in his first epistle "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.." (1Jn 3:1+, cf Jn 1:12+) Guzik adds that "we are children of God, yet not in the same exact sense as Jesus is the Son of God. We are sons of God, not by nature, but by election; not by ancestry but by adoption; not by right but by redemption." Ray Stedman on Grace...and peace - Grace is a word that gathers up all that God is ready to do for us and give to us. All of God's supply comes by grace. Therefore, anything God gives you -- love, joy, peace, forgiveness, help, wisdom -- is part of the supply of grace, and the result of that supply in your life, and in mine, is to be peace. A heart that is resting, a heart that is confident that God is at work is calm within and is serene and untroubled of spirit. Now, that is the way Christians are to live. This whole of the New Testament is addressed to that end. It is not just doctrine about how to go to heaven; it is teaching on how to handle life, how to cope with pressures and stresses, and how to face the difficulties and dangers of life. Therefore, the constant supply of God is to bring peace to our troubled hearts; we are to live at rest. (Why Does It Hurt so Much?) Grace in 2 Corinthians - 2Cor 1:2 2Cor 1:12 2Cor 4:15 2Cor 6:1 2Cor 8:1 2Cor 8:9 2Cor 9:8 2Cor 9:14 2Cor 12:9 2Cor 13:14 Grace to you and peace is repeated 10x in Paul's epistles - Rom. 1:7; 1 Co. 1:3; 2 Co. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2; Phil. 1:2; Col. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:2; Philemon 1:3 Grace (favor) (5485) charis from chairo = to rejoice. English = charity. Beggars need "charity" even as sinners need grace, for we are all spiritual paupers outside of Christ, but "God gives where he finds empty hands"-Augustine [cp Mt 5:3+]) is a word which defies a simple definition but at its core conveys the sense of favor while the specific nuances of charis depend on the context in which it is used. Someone has written that the word grace is probably the greatest word in the Scriptures, even greater even than “love,” because grace is love in action, and therefore includes it. It is hardly too much to say that God has in no word uttered Himself and all that was in His heart more distinctly than in this word grace (charis)! Adrian Rogers says the best definition of grace that he has ever heard is that God's grace is "both the desire and the ability to do the will of God." Grace in simple terms is God's unmerited favor and supernatural enablement and empowerment for salvation and for daily sanctification. Grace is everything for nothing to those who don't deserve anything. Grace is what every man needs, what none can earn and what God Alone can and does freely give (see Ro 8:32+ where "freely give" is charizomai from charis = a grace gift!). Grace addresses man's sin, while mercy addresses man's misery. Note the etymological link between charis and chairo ("rejoice because of grace"); chara ("joy because of grace"); and eucharisteo ("giving thanks for grace") which all share the same fundamental thrust (God's grace). Peace (1515) eirene from verb eiro = to join or bind together that which has been separated) literally pictures the binding or joining together again of that which had been separated or divided and thus setting at one again, a meaning convey by the common expression of one “having it all together”. It follows that peace is the opposite of division or dissension. Peace as a state of concord and harmony is the opposite of war. Peace was used as a greeting or farewell corresponding to the Hebrew word shalom - "peace to you". Eirene can convey the sense of an inner rest, well being and harmony. The ultimate peace is the state of reconciliation with God, effected by placing one's faith in the gospel. In eschatology, peace is prophesied to be an essential characteristic of the Messianic kingdom (Acts 10:36+).
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Guzik - Often, we never receive the comfort God wants to give us through another person. Pride keeps us from revealing our needs to others, so we never receive the comfort God would give us through them. Homer Kent - They had suffered and were divinely comforted and encouraged so that they might more effectively encourage others who needed comfort. What an exalted way to regard one’s afflictions—not merely as an instrument to teach a lesson, but as a means to equip the afflicted to comfort others. Adam
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Guzik - Because Paul’s sufferings were the sufferings of Christ, Jesus was not distant from Paul in his trials. He was right there, identifying with the apostle and comforting him. (ED: And we too can expect He will be near to us when we are suffering for the sake of His Name!) We can count on it: when sufferings abound, consolation also abounds. Jesus is there to bring comfort if we will receive it. Of course, this assumes we are not suffering as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. (1 Peter 4:15–16) God may allow situations in our life where our only consolation is found through Christ. Sometimes we think the only consolation is found in a change of circumstances, but God wants to console us right in the midst of our difficult circumstances, and to do it through Christ. This is the same idea Jesus expressed in John 16:33: In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John Trapp said it this way "“As the hotter the day, the greater the dew at night; so the hotter the time of trouble, the greater the dews of refreshing from God.” (2 Corinthians 1) Brian Bell on the comparison as the sufferings...so also our comfort - The law of a blessed proportion! (sufferings/comforts)
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Guzik - How could God bring consolation and salvation to others through Paul’s suffering? As suffering brought Paul closer to God and made him rely more and more on God alone, Paul was a more effective minister. He was more usable in the hand of God to bring consolation and salvation to God’s people. Whenever we pray, “Lord, just use me. I just want to be used by You to touch the lives of others,” we do not realize that we pray a dangerous prayer. Through this good prayer, we invite God to bring suffering into our lives if that is the proper tool to make us more able to bring consolation and salvation to the lives of others. or if we are comforted (parakaleo), it is for your comfort (paraklesis), which is effective (present tense - continually, passive voice) in the patient enduring of the same sufferings (see pathema) which we also suffer ( pascho) - NRSV = "it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering." Paul's point is whether afflicted or comforted, the result is always good for God’s children. The power of a believer's suffering to provide comfort to others is seen in the saints at Thessalonica, Paul writing "You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation (thlipsis) with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that (INTRODUCES A PURPOSE - IN THIS CASE PURPOSE OF THEIR TRIBULATION) you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia (OF WHAT? THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE JOY IN THE MIDST OF TRIBULATION! THAT IS NOT NATURAL BUT SUPERNATURAL = HOLY SPIRIT!)." (1Th 1:6-7+) Mike Andrus - Paul claims that whether he is experiencing suffering or comfort, the result that is produced in the lives of his friends in Corinth is patient endurance. He passes on to them the comfort he receives from God, and that enables them to endure their own suffering. Guzik - The consolation and salvation the Corinthian Christians received from Paul’s suffering were at work in the Corinthians, making them able to endure the same sufferings Paul and the other apostles endured.. Significantly, Paul writes of the same sufferings. It is unlikely the Corinthian Christians were suffering in exactly the same way Paul was. Probably, not one of them could match the list Paul made in 2 Corinthians 11:23–28. Yet, Paul can say they are the same sufferings because he recognizes that the exact circumstances of suffering are not as important as what God does and wants to do through the suffering. Christians should never get into a “competition” of comparing suffering. There is a sense in which we all share the same sufferings. Of course, sometimes it is useful to compare our sufferings to those of others—to see how light our burden really is! It is easy for us to think our small problems are really much larger than they are.....We see Paul living in the footsteps of Jesus, who was truly an others-centered person. Paul’s life is not focused on himself, but on the Lord and on those whom the Lord has given him to serve. Is Paul suffering? It is so that God can do something good in the Corinthian Christians. Is Paul comforted? It is so that God can bless the Corinthian Christians. Suffering or comforted, it wasn’t all about Paul; it was all about others. Patient enduring (hupomone) describes steadfastness or endurance when circumstances are difficult, not when the sun is shining and everything is going great! Patient endurance however is not a passive acceptance but a strong fortitude (enabled by the Spirit) to face the opposition or difficulty. It is the opposite of despondency and is never used in reference to God, for God does not face difficult circumstances. It described that Spirit enabled mindset which bears things not simply with resignation, but with blazing hope. In other words, when a circumstance occurs that is difficult, painful, frustrating, disappointing, and, you enabled by the Spirit of grace, look by faith to Christ (Heb 12:2-3+) and to His power, sufficiency, fellowship, wisdom, love, etc, and do not give in to despondency, bitterness, resentment. blaming, or complaining, then you are patiently enduring the circumstance. Don't try to do this in reliance on your own natural (fleshly) power beloved. Trust God to provide supernatural power by His Spirit in you. He provides the power (His part), but you must then endure (your part) (See Paradoxical Principle of 100% Dependent/100% Responsible). In 1 Peter 4:10+ we see He gives manifold grace and in 1 Peter 1:6+ we see manifold trials. So the God of all comfort gives the right amount (sufficient) grace for every affliction. Trust Him in the trial and you will grow in your trust of His power and provision (cf Jas 1:12+). Patient enduring "isn’t the idea of passive, bleak acceptance, but of the kind of spirit that can triumph over pain and suffering to achieve the goal. It is the spirit of the marathon runner, not of the victim in the dentist’s chair." (Guzik)
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Guzik - The Corinthian Christians accused Paul of being fickle and insisted that if Paul were a man of integrity he would have come in person. Paul’s change in plans made the Corinthian Christians say that Paul must be a man who says Yes but means No and says No but means Yes. Paul was criticized as a man who couldn’t decide on a plan or who could not carry through on a plan. His enemies among the Christians in Corinth seized on these circumstances to make Paul look bad. It was all right for the Corinthian Christians to be disappointed that Paul didn’t come and visit them. But they were wrong in trying to blame Paul for the disappointment. They needed to see Paul’s heart and God’s hand in the circumstances. Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh (sarx) so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time - MIT = "Or do I plan things, therefore, merely by carnal considerations talking out of both sides of my mouth at the same time?." Amplified = "Or what I plan, do I plan according to the flesh [like a worldly man], ready to say Yes, yes, [when it may mean] No, no?" CSB = Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human way so that I say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" simultaneously?" Purpose...purpose are both bouleuo which means to purpose after deliberation. The alternative to according to the flesh is according to the Spirit, the implication being that Paul had been led by the Spirit to change his plans even though they accused him of fleshly behavior doing what was convenient. But Paul was a Spirit filled, Spirit led man (Gal 5:18+). In this case his being led to not come created a problem with the Corinthians and gave Paul's adversaries a chance to denigrate his integrity and character. But remember that the God of providence always has a higher purpose for His saints and His glory. Ray
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Guzik has an interesting point - Paul alludes to an important principle: The message affects the messenger. Paul could not so sincerely and so strongly preach a Jesus who is not Yes and No and be untouched by that Jesus. Understanding this should have made the Corinthian Christians more trusting towards Paul.
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Guzik - Can we imagine God the Father ever saying “no” to God the Son? God the Father will always say Yes to the Son and will always affirm what the Son says (Amen). Matthew
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Guzik - It has been said that God reserves three things to Himself: First, to make something of nothing. Second, to know future events. Third, to have dominion over men’s consciences. Sadly, there are far too many that are entirely willing to take dominion over other believers in a manner that Paul would not. Adam