2 Corinthians 1
Salutation
1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia.
Paul was the author of this epistle. He wrote 1 Corinthians from the mature church of Ephesus. His first main message to the Corinthians was to grow up and become mature. Paul wrote his second letter from Philippi. Titus brought good news to Paul that the Corinthians were applying what they had learned from Paul's 1st epistle. Paul was encouraged, so he wrote this second letter.
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
This was Paul's standard greeting. Grace was the Greek greeting, meaning kindness. Peace was the Jewish greeting, meaning peace with God.
Thanksgiving for God’s Comfort
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
The Greek word for "blessed" is εὐλογητός (eulogatos), meaning good word, or worthy to be praised. God the Father is the first position of the trinity. God the Father is worthy to be praised with good words.
The Greek word for Lord is κύριος (kurios), meaning deity. The Greek word for Christ is Χριστός (Christos), from the Hebrew word מָשִׁיחַ (maschiach), meaning the annointed King. Jesus is both deity and a human King who fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament.
The Greek word for "mercies" is οἰκτιρμός (oiktirmos), meaning compassion, or a deep sympathetic and caring feeling for those in trouble and despair. God is deeply compassionate and moved emotionally about our predicament in the satanic world system.
The Greek word for "comfort" is παράκλησις (paraklesis), meaning to call someone to walk parallel, or closely by your side. Whenever we are in trouble, the Holy Spirit walks closely beside us to comfort and assist us.
4 who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
The Greek word for "troubles" is θλῖψις (thlipsis), meaning to constrict and place so much pressure on an individual internally so that there is no possible escape. Another way to translate this word is "crushing pressure". Paul most likely faced more crushing pressure than any other Christian who has ever lived, because his calling was so high. Those who serve God will find more crushing pressures, but also more joy. Paul will explain this Biblical truth later in this chapter.
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you.
Christ suffered, and his sufferings flow towards believers. Prosperity preachers falsely teach that Christians are to prosper materially. They misuse the covenant promises to Israel and transfer these promises to the church. This is heretical teaching. Christians are not called to prosper materially. They are called to suffer in this satanic world system, but to prosper in eternity. All genuine believers should expect the same.
6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.
The Greek word for "if" in both cases is εἴτε (eite), a first class conditional conjunction, meaning, since. Paul is confirming in the Greek that since believers live in this fallen world, then Christian leaders will be afflicted, but this provides a wealth of help and salvation to those who hear. Suffering does serve a divine purpose.
7 And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.
Paul gave the divine reason for suffering. As a Christian suffers, they will be comforted. They will also be a comfort to others.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living.
The Greek word for "despaired" is ἐξαπορέομαι (exaporeomai), meaning, no way out. Paul was a veteran of suffering. He and many of the Asian believers suffered beyond their strength. The afflictions created so much crushing pressure, that they thought their was no escape except through death.
9 Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.
The Asian believers were about to be martyred for the gospel. Their only comfort was that they would die, and then God would raise them from the dead.
10 He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again,
However, God still had work for Paul and the Asian Christians to do, so they were delivered from death. All believers are immortal until they complete the call that God has given them. A Christian can escape this call by committing a sin unto death. The believer will not lose his salvation, but he will be called home early. This will result in a loss of rewards. Paul expected to face death again, but he also expected to be delivered again.
11 as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many.
Paul asked the believers to join in the unity of prayer. He asked for praise and thanksgiving to God. Paul was thankful for the gifts that God had given them. These gifts were able to help many of the believers.
Paul Defends His Changed Plans
12 For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God – not by human wisdom but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.
Paul was called to a high office, so he possessed many enemies. The Pharisees and Sadducees swore to kill Paul. Judaizers followed Paul from town to town in an attempt to discredit him. Paul was arrested. beaten, and stoned. Starting with this verse, Paul is going to face the attacks of his enemies head-on by answering many of their accusations against him.
The Greek word for "confidence" is καύχησις (kauchesis), meaning, to boast. Negatively, one can boast about himself. Positively, one can boast in the Lord. Paul was boasting in the Lord that he had given a truthful testimony about Christ.
The Greek word for "testimony" is μαρτύριον (marturion), meaning, evidence. Paul was going to give evidence of what was in his conscience.
The Greek word for "conscience" is συνείδησις (suneidesis), meaning, a moral and spiritual knowledge of creation.
Paul was boasting in the Lord that his conscience was moral in the evidence that he had presented about Christ. He claimed that his motives of sharing Christ were pure and sincere, coming from God himself. His knowledge did not come from human wisdom, or human viewpoint, but from the grace of God. God was kind enough to give this revelation directly to Paul. Paul's conduct in this satanic world system was to teach the truth of Christ among men.
13 For we do not write you anything other than what you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely
The Greek word for "understand" is ἐπιγινώσκω (epiginosko), meaning to know by personal relationship. The verb is perfect active indicative, meaning that this personal relationship knowledge began in the past by God and it will continue forever. It is indicative, meaning that it is a 100% statement of fact.
Paul had been accused of being deceptive for personal reasons. Paul answered this attack by stating that his teaching had been placed in writing for all to understand completely.
14 just as also you have partly understood us, that we are your source of pride just as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
The Corinthians had not understood everything that Paul wrote, but they did understand parts of it. As the Corinthians would learn more and more, they would eventually be proud of what they had learned from Paul. When they reached the Judgment Seat of Christ, they would be proud of these things they had learned.
15 And with this confidence I intended to come to you first so that you would get a second opportunity to see us,
Paul had planned to visit the Corinthians again.
16 and through your help to go on into Macedonia and then from Macedonia to come back to you and be helped on our way into Judea by you.
Paul planned to visit the Corinthians to and from his Macedonia trip.
17 Therefore when I was planning to do this, I did not do so without thinking about what I was doing, did I? Or do I make my plans according to mere human standards so that I would be saying both “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time?
Paul had hoped to come to Corinth, but he had not come yet. This gave his enemies the opportunity to discredit Paul's sincerity. Paul answered that he does not travel by human standards. He goes where the Holy Spirit leads him. When he says yes, he means yes. When he says no, he means no.
18 But as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”
Paul was not a fickle man who could not make up his mind. He was following God's lead.
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us – by me and Silas and Timothy – was not “Yes” and “No,” but it has always been “Yes” in him.
Paul used the full name of Jesus, because this name was under attack by the Judaizers. Since Paul was led in a different direction by the Spirit of God, he sent Silas and Timothy to Corinth in his place.
20 For every one of God’s promises are “Yes” in him; therefore also through him the “Amen” is spoken, to the glory we give to God.
God keeps all of his promises. He will keep his promises to Israel that were given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He will keep his promises that were given to the church about them co-reigning with Christ during the Millennial Kingdom.
21 But it is God who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anointed us,
The Greek word for "establishes" is βεβαιόω (bebaio), meaning, to walk on solid ground. Once one believes, then they are baptized with the Holy Spirit for eternity. They are walking on solid ground.
The Greek word for "anointed" is χρίω (chrio), meaning, to anoint one on the head with olive oil so that he can serve as a prophet. priest, or king. God rubbed olive oil in our heads so that we would be prepared to serve him in some divine capacity.
22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.
The Greek word for "sealed" is σφραγίζω (sphragizo), meaning,an official who makes a promise and signs a document with his signet ring as a signature that he will deliver the promise. The verb is an aorist participle, meaning that the sealing was a one time completed action of the past. Once a person believes, then they are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a down payment of our coming eternity with Christ.
Why Paul Postponed His Visit
23 Now I appeal to God as my witness, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.
Paul will now explain to the Corinthians why he did not come visit them. Paul made an oath and called God to be his witness. The reason that Paul did not come to Corinth was because he would have to return and spank them. He would have to return and discipline them.
24 I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.
After Paul wrote his first letter of condemnation to them, he wanted them to have some time to grow spiritualyl and make the corrections that he asked them. According to Titus, this strategy worked.
