Post by George on Feb 9, 2006 10:34:57 GMT -5
(2 Corinthians 1:3) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
(2 Corinthians 1:4) 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.
(2 Corinthians 1:5) For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
(2 Corinthians 1:4) 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.
(2 Corinthians 1:5) For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
These verses are really quite fascinating. When we look at them we see a lot of things concerning our relationship with God, His relationship with us, our relationship with others and the relationship we have with others based on our relationship with Him.
Blessed be God. When we look at the fact this statement is included at the beginning of the chapter and right after the greeting or salutation, we can deduce it is most likely a statement of extreme joy. It is the very first thing we see in the chapter that actually speaks to the subject of the epistle. Blessed be God.
We very shortly see the reasons for the joy in the pen of the writer. God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. The word used here to denote His position of Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the same word that signifies the relationship between any father and son. Again we see the same word in relationship to His being the Father of mercies. It literally means He fathered mercies. Mercies are exactly what they mean and also mean pity or pities.
In order to fully understand the meaning of mercies let us consult the Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary.
MER'CY, n. [L. misericordia.]
1. That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant. In this sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous with mercy. That which comes nearest to it is grace. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders. Mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being. (Emphasis mine)
Then He is the God of ALL comfort! The Bible clearly says, ALL comfort. All means all. In this case we see that God is the provider of comfort, he is the author of comfort and the inventor of comfort. The Bible clearly tells us that He is the God of ALL comfort.
And…He comforts us in ALL situations. In all our trials and tribulations, He provides comfort. That is because God provides ALL comfort through the Holy Spirit. If you look a bit farther in the passage of scripture you will see The Holy Spirit of God has provided us with all the comfort of home. He has provided us with the comfort of others.
“that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble” Paul does not say that this was the only design which God had in comforting them that they might be able to impart comfort to others; but he does say that this is an important and main purpose. It is an object which he seeks, that his people in their afflictions should be supported and comforted; and for this purpose he fills the hearts of his ministers with consolation; gives them personal experience of the sustaining power of grace in their trials; and enables them to speak of what they have felt in regard to the consolations of the gospel of the Lord Jesus. We see here that we are able to comfort others. We see here beyond the shadow of doubt that God is not the only One who provides comfort.
“by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” Here we are given the “key” to the amount of comfort we can be to others. The latter part of this verse shows clearly that we can only help others as much as He has helped us. Folks that have not been there cannot say they have done it. In order to be effective in providing comfort to others we must have had to be comforted of God at some time. Otherwise we are ineffective.
The Bible goes on to tell us that, for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us - As we are called to experience the same sufferings which Christ endured; as we are called to suffer in his cause, and in the promotion of the same object. And further, So our consolation also aboundeth by Christ - By means of Christ, or through Christ, consolation is abundantly imparted to us. Paul regarded the Lord Jesus as the source of consolation, and felt that the comfort which he imparted, or which was imparted through him, was more than sufficient to overbalance all the trials which he endured in this cause. The comforts which he derived from Christ were those, doubtless, which arose from his presence, his supporting grace, from his love shed abroad in the heart; from the success which he gave to his gospel, and from the hope of reward which was held out to him by the Redeemer, as the result of all his sufferings. And it may he observed as an universal truth, that if we suffer in the cause of Christ, if we are persecuted, oppressed, and calumniated on his account, he will take care that cur hearts shall be filled with consolation.
In Christ,
George