SCRIPTURE: 2 CORINTHIANS 1
INTRODUCTION:
Paul wrote the first letter to instruct them in the faith, resolve their conflicts, and solve some of their problems that deal with moral issues of sex, marriage and conscience. It was well received by most but there were false teachers who denied Paul’s authority and slandered him. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to defend his position and to denounce those who were twisting the truth. When Titus brought him the good news that the people in the Corinthian church had seen their problems and sins and were willing to change, Paul felt much better.
PAUL’S ADDRESSED TO THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH: (vs. 1-2)
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 through Achaia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT (vs. 3-7)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 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. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
SUFFERINGS SHARED BY PAUL (vs. 8-11)
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
PAUL’S CHANGE OF PLANS (vs. 12-23)
Paul’s original plan was to visit Corinth first so that they could benefit twice. He planned to visit on his way to Macedonia and to come back to them from Macedonia and then let them send him to Judea. However, he did not want to go and deal with those in the church who had been attacking and undermining his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ to experience another painful visit. Therefore, he decided not to return to Corinth.
THOUGHTS:
Paul called God the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. When God comforts us, he gives us strength, encouragement and hope to deal with our troubles. If you are downhearted, allow God to comfort you so that you can also comfort other people who are suffering similar troubles.
While Paul was on his way to Damascus, Jesus asked him why he was persecuting him. This implied that Christ suffered with the early Christians when they were persecuted. So when Paul and his companions suffered in his ministry, God comforted them as well as the Corinthian believers who suffered for their faith. He gave them the strength to endure their trials.
God is the source of power. We need to keep in touch with him and rely on His constant help in our lives.
Paul requested prayer for him and his companions as they traveled to spread God’s message. We have to pray for pastors, teachers and missionaries who are spreading the Good News.
Paul changed his original travel plans because the crisis of Corinthian church had not been resolved. He avoided going to Corinth for the sake of church’s unity. But some of his accusers undermined his authority by saying that he could not be trusted. Paul explained that he was not the type of person to say yes when he meant no. He explained that it was not indecision but concern for their feelings that forced him to change his plans. The reason for his trip is to being joy, but it could not be accomplished with the present crisis. He did not want to visit only to rebuke them severely. He would still visit them, but at a better time.