2 Corinthianschapter 1

24 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 396 cross-references outward and receives 474 — heaviest partner: 2 Corinthians.

Chapter summary

Paul and Timothy greet the Corinthian and Achaian saints. Blessed be God, the Father of mercies, the God of all comfort — who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may comfort others. Paul shares his pressed-out-of-measure trouble in Asia, despairing of life, that they should trust not in themselves but in God who raiseth the dead. He defends his change of travel plans: not yea and nay, but faithfulness to the gospel they heard. Henry reads the chapter as the theology of comfort grounded in Christ's trustworthiness.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Epistle · Paul — see the 2 Corinthians overview for the book's full setting.

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessedbethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;

4 who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ.

6 But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:

7 and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort.

8 For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

9 yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead: