2 Corinthians 1
2 Corinthians 1:1-24
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 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.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,
10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,
11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end
14 (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.
15 And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit—
16 to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea.
17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?
18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,
22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
23 Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.
24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.
Paul’s approach to anything he endures is incredibly amazing and a great example to emulate. Rather than becoming consumed with what he is going through and defeated/oppressed by it, he draws comfort and consolation from the Spirit that he sees as an essential enabling to provide comfort and consolation to others. He chooses to see his trials in a similar way to Christ’s view of His – that with every endurance, there was a unique equipping for ministry to others. It allowed him to joy in his sufferings, growing stronger and more empowered with each affliction. He acknowledges that something which is working death in us cannot be followed after. Instead, we have this incredible privilege of following after the One who, in defeating death, was empowered to save many. The key – in trials received the consolation of the Spirit with purpose beyond self.
He emphasizes the unchanging and definitive will of God in relation to his own life and plans. Rather than reflecting the worldly way of providing an answer that may randomly change to the opposite, he indicates that his “yes” can be taken as a “yes” and not wonder if it might be changed to a “no”. What he communicates as guidance from the Spirit will not be changed to a completely different direction by the Spirit. This is, in fact, the reason why we can trust in the Word and place our lives in God’s hands. If He says one thing it will never be changed to the opposite to comply with circumstances and experiences/necessities of life. In Christ there is only “yes” with regard to His promises and never a waffling “no” when a promise is challenged by life. He will never alter the plans and direction of His declared will. This faithfulness should be reflected in us as well.
Paul gives reason to his plans of not returning to Corinth in that he prefers not to administer correction in person, and desires to never come across as domineering, but only as a fellow teammate in an eternal cause. How greatly there should also be in us a great aversion to manipulating of controlling others, but only serving them with humility as we submit ourselves as servants of Christ.
4 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.
I love this verse because we can easily be distracted when we are going through a trial. It reminds us how we are supposed to be there for others, that are in ANY trouble . As God is there comforting us, we should be there to comfort others.
We are established by Christ and given the Holy Spirit as our guarantee. ❤️
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