Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
2 CORINTHIANS 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise to the God of All Comfort
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 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. 7 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.
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Paul’s Change of Plans
12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.
15 Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?
18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
23 I call God as my witness—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.
Application Notes
1:1 Paul visited Corinth on his second missionary journey and founded a church there (Acts 18:1-28). He later wrote several letters to the believers in Corinth, two of which are included in the Bible. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians (referenced in 1 Corinthians 5:9-11) is lost, his second letter to them is the book we know as 1 Corinthians, his third letter (mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:9; 7:12) is lost, and his fourth letter is our book of 2 Corinthians. Second Corinthians was written less than a year after 1 Corinthians.
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to deal with divisions in the church. When his advice was not taken and their problems weren't solved, Paul visited Corinth a second time. That visit was painful both for Paul and for the church (2 Corinthians 2:1). He then planned a third visit but delayed it and wrote 2 Corinthians instead. After writing 2 Corinthians, Paul visited Corinth once more (Acts 20:2-3).
1:1 Paul had great respect for Timothy (Philippians 2:19-20; 1 nmothy 1:2), one of his traveling companions (Acts 16:1-3). Timothy had accompanied Paul to Corinth on Paul's second missionary journey, and Paul had recently sent him there to minister (1 Corinthians 4:17; 16:10). Timothy's report to Paul about the crisis in the Corinthian church prompted Paul to make an unplanned visit to the church to deal with the problem in person (see 2 Corinthians 2:1). (For more information on Timothy, see his profile on page 2103.)
1:1 The Romans had made Corinth the capital of Achaia (the southern half of present-day Greece). The city was a flourishing trade centre because of its seaport. With the thousands of merchants and sailors who disembarked there each year, it had developed a reputation as one of the most immoral cities in the ancient world; its many pagan temples encouraged the practice of sexual immorality along with idol worship. In fact, in Greek, "to church Corinthianize" came to mean "to practice sexual immorality." A Christian church in the city would face many pressures and conflicts. (For more on Corinth, see the first note on 1 Corinthians 1:2.)
1:3-5 Many think that when God comforts us, our troubles should go away. But if that were always so, people would turn to God only out of a desire to be relieved of pain and not out of love for him. We must understand that being comforted can also mean receiving strength, encouragement, and hope from God and others to deal with our troubles. The more we suffer for the cause of Christ, the more comfort God gives us. If you are feeling overwhelmed by ridicule, rejection, or abuse for following Christ, allow God to comfort you. Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfort other people who are suffering from similar troubles.
1:5 The "sufferings of Christ" are those afflictions we experience as we serve him. At the same time, Christ suffers with his people, since they are united with him. In Acts 9:4-5, Jesus asked Paul why he was persecuting him. This implies that Christ identified with and suffered with the early Christians when they were persecuted.
1:6-7 Paul had a view of suffering that was radically different from most people's. He recognised that God uses suffering, especially the trials and discomfort associated with the advancement of Christ's kingdom, to help shape Christians to become more like Jesus. We suffer for the gospel just as Jesus suffered for it (Philippians 1:29; 3:10). Peter agreed with Paul: Christians should rejoice when they suffer, for in their own suffering they will in some small way experience what it meant for Jesus to suffer for their sins (1 Peter 4:12-13).
In addition to drawing people closer to Christ, suffering can also help us grow in our faith. God uses suffering to refine his people and shape us into more mature disciples. In fact, suffering should be thought of as the necessary but rewarding pain that accompanies spiritual growth. In Romans, Paul noted that suffering produces perseverance, which in turn produces Christian character (Romans 5:3-4; also see James 1:3-4; 2 Peter 1:6; Revelation 2:2, 19). This passage highlights another benefit to suffering: It teaches the sufferer how to encourage others who are also suffering.
1:8-10 Paul does not give details about their troubles (hardship) in Asia, although his accounts of all three missionary journeys record many difficult trials he faced (Acts 13:2-14:28; 15:40-21:17). He does write that they felt that they were going to die and realized that they could do nothing to help themselves-they simply had to rely on God.
1:8-10 We often rely on our own skills and abilities when life seems easy and only turn to God when we feel unable to help ourselves. As we realise our own powerlessness without him, we will seek his constant help in our lives through prayer and come to depend on him more and more. We can be confident of his power to rescue us, and we will receive his help by keeping in touch with him. With this attitude of dependence, our problems will drive us to God rather than away from him. If you have this attitude, it will also energise your prayer life and the lives of those who are earnestly praying for you.
1:8 Being a follower of Christ doesn't exempt a person from crushing pressure, stress, or depression. Many Christians believe that followers of Christ should never be depressed. But here Paul, a champion of the early church, was dealing with that very problem. For him, pressure was part of his sanctification, helping him to become more and more like Christ. Evidently, he wondered if he would ever escape his tough circumstances. No doubt you have felt this way about your situation too. When you pray, honestly tell the Lord about the pressure and anxiety currently consuming you. Ask him to undergird you as you chip away at situations you feel are beyond what you can handle.
1:11 Paul requested prayer for himself and his companions as they traveled to spread God's message. Pray for pastors, teachers, missionaries, and others who are spreading the gospel. Satan will challenge anyone who honours Jesus with their words and actions, but prayer can defeat him.
1:12-14 Paul knew the importance of integrity and sincerity in word and action, especially in places like Corinth, where constructive criticism was needed. So Paul did not come with impressive knowledge ("worldly wisdom·). God wants us to be genuine and transparent in all our relationships. If we aren't, we may end up lowering ourselves to spreading rumours. gossiping, and second-guessing.
1:15-17 Paul had recently made a brief, unscheduled visit to Corinth that was very painful for him and the church (see 2:1). After that visit, he told the church when he would return. But Paul changed his original travel plans. Instead of sailing from Ephesus to Corinth before going to Macedonia, he travelled from Ephesus directly to Macedonia, where he wrote a letter to the Corinthians that caused him much anguish and them much sorrow (7:8-9). He had made his original plans, thinking that the church would have solved their problems. When the time came for Paul's scheduled trip to Corinth. However, the crisis had not been fully resolved (although progress was being made in some areas; 7:11-16). So he wrote a letter instead (2:3-4; 7:8) because another visit might have only made matters worse. Thus. Paul stayed away from Corinth because he was concerned for the church's unity, not because he was undecided or had changed his mind.
1:17-20 Paul's change of plans caused some of his accusers to say that he couldn't be trusted. hoping to undermine his authority. Paul said that he was not the type of person to say yes when he meant no. Paul explained that it was his concern for their feelings. not indecision. that had forced him to change his plans. The reason for his trip--to bring joy (1:24)--could not be accomplished with the present crisis. Paul didn't want to visit them only to rebuke them severely (1:23). Just as the Corinthians could trust God to keep his promises, they could trust Paul as God's representative to keep his. He would still visit them, but at a better time.
1:19-20 Instead of defending himself, Paul reminded the Corinthians of God's faithfulness. There is no duplicity in God. His promises will be fulfilled. He does not waver between yes and no. Jesus Christ is the premier example of this. "No matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ.· Jesus perfectly embodies God's faithfulness. Because Jesus Christ is faithful, Paul (a messenger appointed by Jesus) would also be faithful in his ministry.
1:21-22 Paul mentions the gift God gives when we become believers: the Holy Spirit, who guarantees that we belong to God and will receive all the benefits of his promises (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit guarantees that we have salvation now and that we will receive much more when Christ returns. The great comfort and power the Holy Spirit gives in this life is a foretaste or down payment ("deposit") of the benefits of our eternal life in God's presence. With the privilege of belonging to God comes the responsibility of identifying ourselves as his faithful servants. Don't be ashamed to let others know that you are his.
1:23 The Corinthian church had written to Paul with questions about their faith (see 1 Corinthians 7:1). In response, Paul had written 1 Corinthians. But the church had not followed his instructions.
Paul had planned to visit them again, but instead he wrote a letter that caused sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:8-9), but also caused them to change their ways. He had not wanted to visit and repeat the same advice for the same problems. He wrote the emotional letter to encourage them to follow the advice that he had already given in previous letters and visits.
1:24 We are not saved by standing firm, but by standing firm, we give evidence of our commitment to Jesus. Endurance is not a means to earn salvation but the by-product of a truly devoted life. Endurance grows out of commitment to Jesus Christ. In Matthew 10:22, Jesus predicted that his followers would be severely persecuted by those who hated what he stood for. In the midst of terrible persecutions, however, they could have hope, knowing that salvation was theirs. Times of trial serve to sift true Christians from false or fair-weather Christians. When you are pressured to give up and turn your back on Christ, don't do it. Remember the benefits of standing firm and continuing to live for him.
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)