The Epistles · Chapter 1 of 13

2 Corinthians 1

Paul opens his second letter to Corinth with praise to the God of all comfort, who comforts believers in affliction so they can comfort others. He recalls a deadly trial in Asia that taught him to trust the God who raises the dead. He explains his change of travel plans, defending his sincerity, and affirms that all God's promises are Yes and Amen in Christ.

What happens in 2 Corinthians 1

Paul greets the church at Corinth and the saints of Achaia with grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus. He bursts into blessing: God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts believers in every affliction so they may comfort others with the comfort they received. As Christ's sufferings abound in Paul, so does consolation. He recalls a crushing trial in Asia, so severe he despaired of life and felt the sentence of death, that he might learn to trust not himself but God who raises the dead.

Paul then defends his sincerity: his change of travel plans was not fickleness, for his word, like God's Son whom he preached, is not yes and no. All God's promises are Yes and Amen in Christ. God establishes, anoints, and seals believers, giving the Spirit as a pledge. Paul says he spared them by not yet coming, as a helper of their joy.

2 Corinthians 1 in context

Second Corinthians is Paul's most personal letter, written after a painful history with a church that had questioned his integrity and authority. Some accused him of unreliability for changing his travel plans. Paul opens not with rebuke but with worship and vulnerability, sharing a near-death ordeal in Asia.

From the start he sets his sufferings and God's comfort within the pattern of Christ, defending his sincerity while pointing to God's faithfulness.

Main themes of 2 Corinthians 1

2 Corinthians 1 (KJV)

1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: 2Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4Who 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. 5For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6And 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. 7And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 8For 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: 9But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 11Ye 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. 12For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. 13For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; 14As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus. 15And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit; 16And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea. 17When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? 18But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. 19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 20For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 23Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. 24Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Verses to carry from 2 Corinthians 1

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”2 Corinthians 1:3

“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:”2 Corinthians 1:9

“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”2 Corinthians 1:20

Reflection

When trials press me beyond my strength, do I learn to trust the God who raises the dead, or only despair? Paul found that extremity taught reliance, and that comfort received becomes comfort to give. This week I can offer to a fellow sufferer the very consolation God has given me.

A prayer from 2 Corinthians 1