The God Of All Comfort
THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT
2 CORINTHIANS 1:1-7
Paul sees that his experience of God’s comfort in suffering enables him to help others.
Letters in the first century usually began with a mention of the writer’s name and then that of the addressee. The normal practice was to follow this with a line of greeting (as in Acts 15:23; 23:25-26). Paul follows this usual pattern, but inserts some extra items by:
The opening section breaks out into jubilant thanksgiving to God (1:3-4). What are the chief themes of praise? Two reasons are supplied for the apostle’s outburst. The first (in 1:3-7) is in this study; the second is in the next (1:8-11).
Paul is glad that, in spite of the many troubles which have weighed on him, he has known the special strength of God (1:4). Suffering was his constant destiny as the apostle of the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:13; Colossians 1:24), and this was made known to him at the beginning of his Christian life (Acts 9:15-16).
There is a divine purpose in human suffering which is borne for the gospel’s sake, by which the cause of Christ is advanced (Acts 14:22 and Colossians 1:24ff.). His afflicted servants are qualified to enter sympathetically into the experience of others whose pathway leads them through a vale of tears (1:4,6-7). So Paul the apostle is not one who lives a detached existence, untroubled by the hard knocks of life; and by the same token he is no aloof pastor, remote from the people to whom he ministers.
Note 1:3: “Father of mercies.” The Father who gives mercy, who delights to hear his children’s cry (Psalm 145:18-19). Notice the often-repeated word for “comfort” (literally, encouragement, strengthening) here—ten references in five verses.
Thought “Patiently endure … sufferings.” Not easy advice, but there are great rewards (1 Peter 2:19-21).