When studying the Bible, history and background is good. Often, the situation of the original recipients (i.e., the groups to whom various messages of the Bible were first given) helps us interpret and understand God’s word as it was intended. However, there are also times when the truths contained within the Bible jump off the page and speak to us in any era, because we face the same challenges as the original hearers and readers of its message.
Consider some context to the letter from Paul that became the book of 2 Corinthians in the Bible…
The book that we call 1 Corinthians is apparently not the first letter that Paul ever wrote to the church in Corinth (based on 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, where he refers to a past letter). And [per Baker’s analysis, cited at the end of this article], in-between the books we call 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians, there also appears to have been a visit from Paul to Corinth (which did not go well), followed by a guy named Titus delivering another letter (which was pretty hard-hitting) from Paul to the Corinthians.
While 1 Corinthians was addressed from Paul and Sosthenes, 2 Corinthians is addressed from Paul and Timothy. The first couple of verses include this introduction, addressing the letter to the church in Corinth (and others in Achaia, which is the region of Greece in which Corinth is located, per The Roman Province of Achaia Map (biblestudy.org)).
This contextual information can help us understand certain points that Paul covered in the book of 2 Corinthians, some of which are addressed over the next few scheduled articles. Regardless of its history, though, the first chapter of 2 Corinthians includes an important message for pretty much everyone who follows Jesus today.
In particular, if you are struggling or hurting, or if you need comfort, or if someone you know is hurting or needs comfort, I really encourage you to pause and study 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 today. Here’s an excerpt:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NIV
There’s a lot of value here, but let me summarize a few points in my own words:
- God comforts us.
- He comforts us so that we can comfort others.
- We share in the sufferings of Jesus, but we also have abundant comfort in Him.
- When we are distressed [NIV] or afflicted [NASB], it can be for the comfort and salvation of others.
- Similarly, when we are comforted, it can also be for the comfort of others, so that they can endure suffering.
- God has rescued us, and He will deliver us.
- We can ask God to grant favor to others, and then give thanks to Him for doing so.
Before picking up at verse 12 in the next article, won’t you read through this whole passage for yourself, though, asking God to show you His message through His word? Then, rather than me trying to over-analyze things (especially without knowing your personal situation today), I invite you to see if God is making His comfort available to you, whether for your own blessing, for the good of others, or both.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for May 5, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, May 5, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 2 Corinthians, by William R. Baker. © 1999 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 