2 Corinthians 1

2 Corinthians 1:1-6

After the introduction, vers. 1, 2. the apostle begins with the narrative of his troubles and God’s goodness which he had met with in Asia, by way of thanksgiving to God, vers. 3-6. and for the edification of the Corinthians, vers. 7-11. Then he accepts his and his fellow-labourers integrity, vers. 12, 13, 14. and afterwards vindicate himself from the imputation of levity and incourancy, vers. 15-24.

PAUL 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: 2. Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4. Who 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. 5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6. And 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.

The apostle opens the epistle.

1. With his usual address and salutation. Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God eminently called to this high office, and Timothy our brother, who joins me in heartiest affection towards you; unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia, who in profession and practice appear to be separated from the world as the Lord’s people. Grace be to you and peace, with all their happy fruits, from God the Father, the author of all our blessings, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the meritorious cause of them.

2. He blesseth God for the signal mercies he had experienced. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and who in and through him, as the divine Mediator, is now become to us the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, multiplying his pardons, showering down his benefits, and giving us spiritual, temporal, and eternal consolation through this Son of his love, who comforteth us in all our tribulations, by his word and Spirit bringing home the great and precious promises with power to our souls, and shedding abroad his love in our hearts, that, from experience of the riches of his goodness, we may be able to comfort them that are in trouble, whether of soul or body, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God, tenderly sympathizing with them, and suggesting those encouraging words of scripture, which, in distress, we have found reviving to our own souls. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, to whom

whom

whom we are thus conformed, and who is full afflicted in all the affliction of his members, so our confidation also abounded by Christ, who fails not to minister supports and comforts proportionable to our sufferings. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your confidation and salvation, it is designed for your advantage, that by our examples of patience, fortitude, and perseverance, you may be encouraged to bear up under every trial, and boldly stand fast, till your salvation is completely, which is effectual, and greatly promoted by such exercises of faith and patience, in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, by divine supports under our afflictions, or by reasonable deliverances from them, it is also ordered for your confidation and salvation. Note, (1.) All our mercies from God call for perpetual grateful acknowledgments. (2.) They who have been exercised with trials in their own souls and bodies, will be the most able confederers to others under the like troubles. We speak best, when we speak from experience. (3.) Though our afflictions may be at present grievous, the time will come when we shall see peculiar reason to bless God for them, and know that they have been especially conducive to our eternal salvation. (4.) All our comforts flow from God in Christ, as reconciled to us in a covenant of everlasting love.