Lesson: II Corinthians 1:3-11
Golden Text: “And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation” (II Corinthians 1:7).
INTRODUCTION. The love that binds the church together expresses itself in mutual concern. This is especially the case in times of suffering. The body of Christ is similar to the human body in that “whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it” (I Corinthians 12:26). Every Christian has the responsibility of extending comfort and consolation to suffering brethren in Christ. This week’s lesson teaches that God does not bestow comfort and consolation on us simply for our own benefit. The trials we endure through God’s mercy enable us to help others who experience similar troubles.
BACKGROUND FOR THE LESSON. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians was written within a year of the first letter to the same church. Paul begins II Corinthians 1:1as he frequently did his other epistles by identifying himself as an apostle. But in this letter it was especially meaningful for him to do this because there were many believers in Corinth who were beginning to question Paul’s apostolic status and authority. He also recognized Timothy as one who was with him in Macedonia as he wrote this letter. Timothy, Paul’s good friend and co-laborer, had joined Paul on his second missionary journey (see Acts 16:1-3). Timothy had also served with Paul in Corinth (see Acts 18:5; I Corinthians 16:10-11). Paul addressed this letter to the believers in Corinth referring to them as “the church of God” (see I Corinthians 1:1) because they belonged to God in spite of their past sins. Not only was the letter addressed to the church at Corinth, but also to the saints scattered throughout Achaia (ancient Greece). Paul’s greeting in II Corinthians 1:2 is much the same as he gave in his other letters. He declared “grace” and “peace” unto his readers from God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The terms “grace” and “peace” were the familiar Greek and Hebrew greetings. Our lesson begins with verse 3.
THE VALUE OF COMFORT (II Corinthians 1:3-7)
A. God comforts us (II Corinthians 1:3-4).
1. (vs. 3). After greeting the believers in Corinth and all of Achaia, Paul says in this verse “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.” Paul began by expressing praise and adoration to God. First he said “Blessed be God.” Although the word “Blessed” is sometimes used to mean bestowing prosperity or help upon someone, here it means to speak well of or to praise. Paul wanted to honor and praise God for His bountiful blessings. Next, the apostle used several titles to describe God. He called Him “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” which reminds us of the goodness of God in giving His Son for our salvation (see John 3:16). Often Christ is praised for His saving grace, but the Father is just as responsible for our salvation (see Romans 5:8). Paul used Jesus’ full title, “Lord Jesus Christ.” The term “Lord” emphasizes His authority, for He is the Master and Owner of His children. “Jesus” which is His human name, emphasizes His ministry in salvation. His name means “Yahweh saves” or “Jehovah is salvation.” The term “Christ” speaks of His regal power. The word means “anointed one” and is the translation of the Greek word for Messiah. Paul also calls God “the Father of mercies.” He is the source of all mercy. This description shows God as having compassion, and demonstrating pity. God is merciful. He withholds deserved judgment from those who accept His gracious salvation. Simply put “mercy” is God not giving us what we deserve---judgment. God is also described as “the God of all comfort.” This means that He is the ultimate source of encouragement. The term translated “comfort” can mean consolation, encouragement, or exhortation. God provides encouragement and whatever help is needed to those who trust Him.
2. (vs.
4). Still talking about God, Paul continues to say “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.” In the phrase “Who comforteth us in all our
tribulation” Paul is speaking personally and using the word
“us” to include his travelling companions, especially Timothy
(see II Corinthians 1:1), as being comforted by God in all their
“tribulations” or sufferings. Paul said that God
comforted him and his companions so “that we may be able to comfort them
which are in any trouble.” In other words, as Paul
received comfort from God while experiencing trials, he in turn comforted others
in their trials. The phrase “by the comfort wherewith we
ourselves are comforted of God” simply means that when
we have been comforted by God in our hard times, we are to share that comfort
with others who are going through similar trials.
B. We
are comforted (II Corinthians 1:5).
In this
verse, Paul went on to say “For as the sufferings of Christ
abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”
The word “abound” means “an abundance” or
“excess.” The “sufferings of Christ” are those
afflictions we experience as we do Christ’s ministry. Paul was
still speaking personally referring to himself and his companions, shown again
by the word “us.” Yes, they suffered an abundance
of hardships for Christ, but they also received an abundance of comfort from
Christ. This is what is meant by the phrase “so our
consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” The
“consolation” or comfort that Paul and his coworkers received
from the good hand of God was plentiful. It abounded just as their
sufferings abounded. God’s grace was always sufficient for their
needs and it’s sufficient for ours as well (see II Corinthians 12:9).
Note: Paul suffered for Christ because of his service for
Him. He was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (see Romans
1:16). Some of the specific hardships he endured for Christ are
given in this letter (see II Corinthians 11:23-28). Through all of
his sufferings, Paul also experienced God’s grace and comfort (see II
Corinthians 12:8-10). What he wrote to the Christians in Corinth
concerning God’s gracious comfort, he had experienced firsthand.
Paul and Timothy had suffered much for Christ. Paul may
have had in mind not only what he had suffered in Asia (see II Corinthians 1:8;
Acts 19:22-32) but also the suffering some of the Corinthians had caused him
(see Acts
18:1-12).C. We comfort you (II Corinthians 1:6). Paul continues to say in this verse “And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.” Paul didn’t believe his sufferings were just for his own benefit. He told the Corinthians that the sufferings with which he and Timothy were “afflicted” or experienced, were for “your consolation and salvation.” These believers were the recipients of the comfort and encouragement that came from Paul and Timothy’s suffering and consolation. God had provided Paul with “consolation and salvation,” and he knew that God would do the same for the Corinthians. The word “salvation” here refers to the deliverance from defeat and discouragement brought on by suffering, not to salvation from sin’s condemnation. Paul also said that the sufferings he and Timothy were experiencing was for the Corinthians’ benefit and was “effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.” In other words, the comfort they received from Paul and Timothy would help them “endure” or stand firm when they went through the same sufferings as Paul and Timothy. This verse may better be translated like this: “If we have troubles, it’s for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it’s so that we can comfort you. And this helps you patiently accept the same sufferings we have.” Note: As our suffering level goes up, so does our ability to comfort others. If we are to help others bear their burdens, we need to experience suffering and hardships ourselves. No Christian can spiritually endure trials by himself. All the members of Christ’s body need each other. A key purpose in suffering is so that we might encourage and comfort other believers in their suffering. It’s comforting to know that another believer has successfully gone through the same type of difficulty that we are experiencing.
D. We hope for you (II Corinthians 1:7). Here Paul said “And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.” Paul and Timothy had a steadfast hope that the Corinthian believers would remain faithful and not let their suffering turn them away from God. The word “stedfast” means “firm.” We can be tempted to turn from God when we start to doubt His goodness and our trials seem extremely difficult and never ending. Paul and Timothy had no doubts that just as the Corinthian believers were “partakers (or partners) of the sufferings” with them for Christ, they would also share in Christ’s “consolation” or encouragement.
THE VALUE OF PRAYER (II Corinthians 1:8-11)
A. Burdened beyond measure (II Corinthians 1:8). In this verse Paul says “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life.” Paul wanted his readers to be aware and not “ignorant” of their troubles, so he proceeded to tell his readers more about the specifics of the suffering he and his companions endured. He called attention to the sufferings that had come to him and those who were with him in Asia, but he didn’t say exactly what they experienced. He did say that they were “pressed out of measure, above strength.” In other words, the suffering was severe. The phrase “pressed out of measure” mean that they were under great pressure and heavy burdens. Their hardships weighed them down, so that they felt crushed under it. The terms “above strength” mean that what they were experiencing was beyond normal human endurance. What they endured was more than most people could bear. The circumstances were so difficult that Paul said “we despaired even of life.” Whatever the trials were, they were great enough to make Paul and his companions think that they were going to die.
B. Delivered from death (II Corinthians 1:9-10).
1. (vs. 9). Paul continued to say “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.” When Paul said “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves” he was saying that from a human standpoint, they thought death was imminent. But he realized that they were put in those positions as he said, so that “we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.” The point here is that when our suffering or trials are great, we should not trust in ourselves, but instead trust in God, who has the power to raise the dead. If God can raise the dead, He certainly can and will provide for His own. During their time of suffering, Paul and his companions came to experience the resurrection power of God (see Philippians 3:10).
2. (vs. 10). Still referring to God who is able to raise the dead, the apostle continued to say “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.” Deliverance is what is stressed in this verse in three tenses, past present and future. Paul stated that it was God “Who delivered us from so great a death” which is a reference to the past trials they faced in Asia (see verse 8). That deliverance in Asia was to Paul nothing less than a resurrection from the dead. Not only did God deliver them from trials, Paul said that God also “doth deliver” which refers to any present trials they may be experiencing. The apostle also said that God in whom we trust “will yet deliver us” referring to any future trials they would experience. Paul was clear: the deliverance and protection God provided in the past would encourage him to “trust” God to deliver him in the present and the future. Paul didn’t know what the future held for him and neither do we. What’s important is not what trials the future may bring, but knowing intimately the One who holds the future.
C. Thanks through prayer (II Corinthians 1:11). In our final verse Paul says “Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.” Paul knew that many of his readers were praying for him and his associates. The word “Ye” refers to the Corinthian Christians. Paul said that they were “helping together by prayer for us.” In other words, the prayers of the Corinthians were used by God to bring comfort and deliverance to His servants. God works through the prayers of His people (see Luke 21:36; I Peter 3:12; James 5:16). Paul continued to say that the prayers “of many persons” caused “the gift” to be bestowed upon them. The word “gift” here could refer to either the “comfort” in verse 4 or the “consolation” in verse 7 or even the deliverance that Paul and Timothy received from God. Finally, Paul stated that just as “many persons” had prayed for them, “many” would now give thanks to God on their “behalf” meaning giving thanks to God for answering their prayers.
V. Conclusion. The Apostle Paul endured severe suffering on many occasions. Some of his suffering was so devastating that he nearly died. This is an indication that even God’s most faithful servants are not exempt from suffering. Paul was always kept by the “God of all comfort.” We can apply this lesson to our lives as we accept the fact that because God comforts us in our suffering, we can likewise comfort other people in their suffering. For sure God desires Christians to keep an attitude of mutual concern for one another, especially in times of trouble.
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