2 Corinthians

Saturday, 23 May 2015

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 2 Corinthians 1:8

Paul has been writing in general terms and speech during his introductory comments. He now initiates a more specific line of thought beginning with “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren.” This same terminology is used by him at least four other times in his letters. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 he says –

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.”

Continuing on, he will now give specific details of the sufferings that he referenced in verses 3 through 7. They came about in Asia, meaning the part of Asia Minor in which Ephesus is the capital. This trouble may be referred to in one or more of the incidents recorded in Acts, but which cannot be definitively identified.

It may also be, as some suppose, an internal stress that he felt. If so, it could be the troubles which are identified in his first letter to the Corinthians, his concern over them, and the conflict he felt concerning what type of reception his words would bring. If this is so, he stressed over the matter in the greatest way. However, later verses seem to negate this possibility.

Whatever the burden, internal or external, it was felt by those who were with him. As he notes, “…we were burdened beyond measure, above strength.” The term “beyond measure” comes from the Greek word huperbolé, which means properly “a throwing beyond.” It then indicates excess. The burden he felt was in such a category, even “above strength.”

The words are given as a superlative way of showing the nature of the situation. So bad it was “that we despaired even of life.” His choice of wording translated as “despaired” is the word exaporeó. It is used only twice in the New Testament and both are in this epistle. It comes from ex – out, and aporeo which is to be without a way of escape. Again, the use of his words is intended to let the Corinthians know the absolutely serious nature of the situation he and his companions faced.

Life application: Paul has taken the time to expand on his previous thoughts to show the superlative nature of his sufferings. Despite them, as seen in the previous verses, he was comforted. He then noted that the same comfort was a means of edifying and comforting his audience. If we can learn to use real life examples of our troubles and trials, we can then turn and show empathy for others who are living through their own trials. Reading our Bible daily is a good way of learning how to do exactly this. Don’t let your Bible get dusty! Read it and think on it daily.

Lord, the Bible won’t do me a bit of good as long as it sits on the shelf. The amount of dust it has accumulated is really an indictment on how I perceive this precious gift from You. Grant me the desire, the time, and the ability to pick it p, read it, and learn it each day and even throughout each day. I would pray that there would be far less dust on the Bible than on the TV remote! Grant me wisdom in this most important matter. Amen.

Friday, 22 May 2015

And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. 2 Corinthians 1:7

Again as with the previous verses, Paul ties suffering in with comfort. It is true that we cannot fully appreciate things without a contrast with which to gauge them. If we always felt well, we wouldn’t have an appreciation for what feeling well means. But when we get hurt or sick, we can then understand how good it was to feel normal. And when we get back to feeling normal, we can enjoy it in a new way.

If everything smelled sweet, we wouldn’t have an appreciation for it. But when an objectionable odor comes along, we can then more appreciate the sweet fragrances of the flowers. In consideration of this, Paul has spoken of suffering and consolation. Here, he tells the Corinthians (and all who suffer in Christ and have read this letter), that the apostle’s hope for us in our sufferings is steadfast.

They had suffered and they had received consolation. Likewise, they knew that we, being “partakers of the sufferings” would also “partake of the consolation.” To show that the “our” is certainly a truth understood by the other apostles, we can go to the words of Peter. In his first epistle, he shows a similar thought for us to consider –

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10

The truth is that suffering stinks. Nobody willingly hopes for suffering. But in Christ, there is a good end to the sufferings we face, and there is a good reason why we have faced them. The fragrance of the consolation is there and it is all the more sweet because we too have suffered.

Life application: In the Bible, we are admonished to “fix our eyes on Jesus.” In so doing, we won’t get arrogant in the good times and we won’t become despondent in the difficult times. In Him is our perfect example to emulate and our perfect hope to anticipate.

Lord Jesus, I will keep my eyes steadfastly fixed on You. When things are good, I can look to You and realize that they came from You. In knowing this, I won’t get arrogant or cocky. And when things aren’t so great, I won’t get despondent or downcast in my soul. Instead, I will know that You have gone before me in suffering and You will be there for me at the end of mine. For sure You are my perfect example to emulate and my perfect hope to anticipate. Thank You for the stability that comes from keeping my eyes fixed on You. Amen.

Thursday, 21 May 2015

Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 2 Corinthians 1:6

Paul’s words continue on from the thought of the previous verse. There he noted the logical chain of events from Christ’s sufferings to the sufferings of the apostles. In their sufferings, they also abounded in Christ’s consolation. In turn, he notes that there is a reason for their afflictions. It is “…for your consolation and salvation.”

One thing leads naturally to another. Paul shows this explicitly in Philippians 1 –

“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; ¹⁴ and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Philippians 1:12-14

It then is for a good purpose that the apostles were afflicted. The lessons learned by those who saw their sufferings led directly to their consolation and even salvation “which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer.” We learn by example and we can remember other’s courage during afflictions which can then strengthen us in our walk. This is a natural human pattern, be it a soldier learning from his platoon sergeant, or a cow-hand on the range learning from the older hands. To see that others can take difficulties shows us that we too, having a like nature, can take them as well.

Finally, it isn’t just sufferings that we receive benefit from. It is also times of comfort. As Paul notes, “Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.” The Corinthians were able to see both sides of the coin through Paul’s afflictions and through his times of comfort. Because of this, they were able to process what happened to him and apply it to themselves and their own spiritual walk.

This progression is seen from Paul’s hand in Romans 5 –

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:3-5.

Life application: Those who are wise will learn from those who go before them. If we pay heed to their times of trials and their times of rejoicing and grasp how they were affected by them, we can follow their examples when similar times come upon us. To think that we are experiencing something new which is unique to the human condition is naive. And to think that we can handle such an instance better than those who have already experienced them without learning from them is only begging for greater troubles than we need to face.

Lord God, help me to be wise and discerning concerning the difficulties that come my way. You gave me parents who have faced similar trials in the past. You have put mentors in my life who have also experienced things I have yet to face. Help me Lord to look to their examples of what to do and what not to do instead of just trying to do things better on my own. I know that I’ll be a lot better off if I just learn the lessons of the past and apply them to my here and now. Grant me such wisdom Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, 20 May 2015

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5

There are numerous references to the sufferings of Christ in the Bible, and many of them are spoken of as being related directly to His disciples. In Colossians 1:24, Paul tells us that –

“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church…”

The church is destined for suffering, just as it is destined for glory. Paul understood this, and he felt that as much as he suffered there was an abounding of consolation to be found at the same time. Nothing was lacking in the process of suffering. And the consolation which he felt was the surety that he possessed the Spirit of God. In knowing this, he was thus comforted because the Spirit is a guarantee of future glory for the believer. Hence, he notes exactly this in Philippians 3:10 –

“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”

In “being conformed to His death” we shall also be raised as He was to eternal life through “the power of the resurrection.” There could be no shame in the suffering if there is the coming glory which that suffering leads to. Thus, there is the great consolation which “also abounds through Christ.” Understanding this, believers are not to be ashamed of suffering, but instead are instructed to be willing to bear His reproach, knowing that we bear all of the honor and future glory that comes with it. And so the author of Hebrews admonishes us –

“Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” Hebrews 13:13

Life application: Even if we have never really suffered for the name of Christ, many in the world have. We cannot assume that just because the place where we live is a harbor of safety for Christians, that it won’t be attacked at some point. And therefore, we must always be ready to accept sufferings that may come our way, knowing that in them our consolation will also abound through Christ.

Heavenly Father, I sit at ease in this world, having never known true suffering for Christ. And yet, all around the world there are those who are facing torture and even death for the sake of His glorious name. Should those same persecutions come to my peaceful shores, I would ask for strength enough to hold fast to my faith and to be able to praise You through whatever trials I am set to endure. With this, I will be grateful. Amen.

Tuesday, 19 May 2015

…who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:4

This verse is connected directly to the previous verse which said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort…”

It is this “God of all comfort” of which Paul continues to speak. It is He “who comforts us in all our tribulation.” The “us” is speaking of all believers, but particularly himself, those with him, and the recipients of his letter, the Corinthians. We are included in this as well in that God has ensured this epistle is included in the Bible. Therefore, we can be confident that all tribulations we face do in fact include God’s great hand of comfort.

And there is a reason for this in our lives. It is “that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble.” In this, Paul gives an end purpose for our own tribulations. They come so that we will have the ability to comfort others in their times of tribulation. If God is truly the “God of all comfort,” and our comforting others in their own tribulations is an end purpose of the afflictions we face, then this means that God’s comfort for those we in turn provide comfort to is being provided by us. Thus, we become the means of God’s comfort of which He speaks.

In confirmation of this, Paul shows this to be so when our own ability to comfort others comes “with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted with.” Jesus suffered and yet through His sufferings He was able to provide comfort to those who followed Him. They in turn suffered, and they in turn were able to provide comfort to those who followed them. It is a repeating cycle of care which stems originally from God who truly is the “God of all comfort.” This is actually alluded to in the book of Hebrews –

“For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.” Hebrews 5:1, 2

As an additional note, Paul does not say that the only reason for our tribulations is to attain the ability to comfort others. Tribulations may come for correction, as an instrument of bringing us closer to the Lord, or simply for attaining knowledge that we would otherwise be lacking. In all though, when tribulations come, they are not unknown to God, nor is He uncaring concerning our situation.

Life application: God has promised never to leave us nor forsake us when we are in Christ. Let us be reassured in this, particularly when times of great trial or suffering arise.

Heavenly Father, despite the many trials and troubles which come my way, I will keep my eyes fixed on You and my heart directed to You. I will not let my faith slip because of temporary light afflictions. I know that greater things lie ahead for me because of the work of Jesus my Lord. Should I lose hope in You and Your promises, I would have nothing left in my times of trial! And so instead, I will cling to You even tighter. Amen!