II Corinthians Study II Corinthians 1:1-24 The Comfort of God in Life’s Circumstances

Paul begins this wonderful epistle by introducing himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ.  Both he and Timothy send greetings to the church of God at Corinth, and to all the saints in all Achaia.  As usual in Paul’s greetings to the various churches he wrote to, he would mention the word “grace” followed by the word “peace” (vv. 1-2).  Paul proceeds further in expressing that we should render praise to God because of His comfort.  It is a wonderful delight to praise the “God of all comfort” because He is always with us in all of our troubles!

As believers, we have the blessed assurance in knowing that God is with us in every circumstance of our lives, and that fact is a source of comfort!  Yes, as Christians, it is a joy to know that God stands at our side to help whenever we go through troubles (Isaiah 41:10-13; 43:2-3).  However, brothers and sisters, the comfort that God provides for us is not simply for our personal enjoyment; it is given to us that we might be able to aid or help others.  We go through tribulations that we might be able to minister to others!  The biblical comfort that the world needs is channeled through us, God’s people, as we share His word (vv. 3-4).

Paul revealed that the sufferings that he experienced were the results of his relationship to Christ.  Paul’s sufferings for Christ were accompanied by a comfort that overflowed (v. 5).  As Christians growing in God’s grace, we ought to be willing to endure trials since we know they bring spiritual good to us personally, and blessings to others as we share with them God’s comfort (v. 6).   In verse 7, we are introduced to the term “partakers” which means fellowship or partner.  As we continue to engage in ministry, we ought to be willing to be “partners” with Christ in suffering since this “partnership” leads to comfort and edification.

According to verses 8-11, the Apostle Paul experienced a degree of hardship in Asia that brings Paul to the end of himself.  Commentators are divided over the exact nature of the hardship Paul has reference to; however, the hardship was indeed severe!  Paul believed he would die.  The great pressure of this hardship was beyond his ability to endure, so that he even felt the sentence of death.  Nevertheless, Paul was assured that God would deliver him from the peril of death.

Paul maintained a firm trust in God’s ability to deliver, for verse 10 says: “Who delivered us from so great death, and doth deliver; in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us.”  The prayers of the Corinthians were part of this deliverance, and Paul acknowledged that his deliverance in answer to the prayers of the Corinthians will cause many to praise God and give Him the glory He deserves (v. 11).  There was a question with regards to Paul’s commitment to the church of Corinth that prompted many to doubt Paul’s sincerity.  Paul affirmed that their conduct among the Corinthians was without censure and that Paul’s letters were simple, sincere, and not in man-made wisdom but in God’s grace.  Paul was confident of the genuineness of the Corinthians’ conversion in view of the Day of the Lord Jesus, when they will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ (vv. 12-14).

Paul had proposed a journey from Ephesus that would have permitted him to visit the Corinthians twice.  At that time Paul hoped to go to Corinth by way of Macedonia and spend the winter with the Corinthians.  However, there was a change in Paul’s visit to the Corinthians.  Because of this change in his itinerary, Paul’s critics said that he was not reliable.  Paul did not make plans in a worldly way and then change them for selfish reasons.  Paul even defended the fact that in what he said was also reliable (vv. 15-17).  Because of the faithfulness of God, the reliability of the message that Paul preached was also sure.  Paul did not vacillate in the message that he presented nor did he vacillate in his plans to visit them.  The gospel that Paul preached was a glorious, positive gospel, and it was “yea”.  Everything is positive in Christ – all the promises of God find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ.  As believers, we can testify and say “Amen” (vv. 18-20).

At the point of faith in the finished work of Christ, each believer is anointed with the Holy Spirit (I John 2:20, 27).  The believer is also sealed by the Holy Spirit which is the make of ownership.  The seal (the mark of ownership) confirms that each believer is identified with Christ, and that each believer is God’s property (I Corinthians 6:19-20).  The earnest of the Holy Spirit in our hearts is like a deposit, guaranteeing that God’s promises will be consummated (vv. 21-22).  In verses 23-24 Paul realized that his changed plans had caused a problem in Corinth.  However, Paul affirmed earnestly that his plan in seeing them was delayed out of consideration for the Corinthians, a desire to avoid disciplinary action “to spare you”.  In essence, Paul did not assert his authority over the Corinthians; however, Paul stayed away so that their faith might be strengthened and that they might grow in the Lord.

May God Bless!