2 Corinthians 1 is the beginning of the second letter that the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, and includes Paul’s greetings and thanksgiving, as well as his accounts of suffering and comfort. This chapter shows the deep connection between the church in Corinth and Paul, and provides the context for Paul’s defense of his apostleship.
1. Greetings (1:1-2)
1:1 "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is in Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:"
- Paul introduces himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus, and together with his co-worker Timothy, he sends greetings to the church in Corinth and all the saints in Achaia.
1:2 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Paul prays for God's grace and peace to come to the Corinthian believers.
2. Gratitude and Praise (1:3-7)
1:3 “Blessed be the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.”
- Paul praises God, calling Him the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
1:4-7
- Paul says that God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others with the comfort we receive.
- He emphasizes that as we share in Christ's sufferings, we also receive abundant comfort through Him.
- Paul is confident that the Corinthian believers will be comforted and endure their suffering along with him and his companions.
3. Paul's Suffering and God's Comfort (1:8-11)
1:8 “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about the affliction we had in Asia, so severe that even our hope of life was cut off.”
- Paul speaks of the severe suffering he endured in Asia, describing it as so severe that he lost all hope of life.
1:9 "But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead."
- Paul says that the suffering was so that we would not rely on ourselves but only on God.
1:10 “And we hope in him that he delivered us from this great death, and that he will deliver us again, and that he will deliver us hereafter.”
- It expresses faith that God has saved them in the past and will save them in the future.
1:11 "You also help us by prayer, so that thanks may be given by many on our behalf for the gift granted us through the prayers of many."
- Paul asks the Corinthian believers to join him in prayer. Many people say that by joining together in prayer, they will receive God's grace, and as a result, many people will be grateful.
4. Paul’s sincerity and pure motives (1:12-14)
1:12-14
- Paul emphasizes that he did not act with worldly wisdom but lived honestly by the grace of God.
- He tells the Corinthians that he is proud of them and wants them to be proud of one another.
5. Paul’s travel plan (1:15-22)
1:15-16
- Paul explains his plans to visit Corinth. He reveals his plan to visit Corinth twice to benefit the saints.
1:17-18
- Paul emphasizes that his change of plans was not capricious or reckless, but that he acted in truth before God.
1:19-22
- Paul emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the Amen (truth) of God, and that all of God's promises are found yes in Christ.
- We emphasize that God established us firmly in Christ and sealed us by giving us the Holy Spirit.
6. Paul’s love and consideration (1:23-24)
1:23 "I call God to testify on my life that I spared myself the trouble of not going back to Corinth."
- Paul explains that the reason he did not visit Corinth again was because he cared for the saints.
1:24 “For we are not in control of your faith, but helpers of your joy, because you stand by faith.”
- Paul says that he does not intend to dictate the faith of the saints, but to be a helper of their joy.
summary
Chapter 1 of 2 Corinthians consists of Paul's greetings and thanks, and the story of the suffering he experienced and the comfort it brought. Paul emphasizes his own apostleship and sincerity, and confesses that he relied on God and received His comfort even in his suffering. Through this, we hope to provide the same comfort to the Corinthian believers.