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2 Corinthians 1

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Salutation and Greeting 1–2

1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: ​
2
Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The God of All Comfort in Affliction 3–11

3
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; ​
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. ​
5
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. ​
6
And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7
And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
8
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: ​
9
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: ​
10
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
11
Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. ​

Paul Defends His Sincerity 12–14

12
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. ​
13
For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
14
As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Defense of the Changed Travel Plans 15–22

15
And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit; ​
16
And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.
17
When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? ​
18
But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
19
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. ​
20
For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. ​
21
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. ​

The Pastoral Reason for Delay 23–24

23
Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. ​
24
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for 2 Corinthians 1

Verse 1

the church of God which is at Corinth — Ekklesia is an assembly called out. 'All Achaia' (the Greek province) widens the address beyond the city. Timothy, whom Paul asked Corinth to receive 'without fear' (1 Cor 16:10), is named as co-sender; Silvanus joins him in v.19.

Verse 3

the Father of mercies — Oiktirmos is pity, here in the plural; 'comfort' is paraklesis, a calling alongside, the root that runs through vv.4–7. The opening 'Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ' matches the opening of Eph 1:3 and 1 Pet 1:3, 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ'.

Verse 4

comfort them which are in any trouble — 'Comforteth', 'comfort' and 'comforted' are all forms of parakaleo; 'tribulation' and 'trouble' are both thlipsis, pressure. Comfort received from God is meant to be passed on, as in Isa 51:12: 'I, even I, am he that comforteth you'.

Verse 5

the sufferings of Christ — Pathema is hardship undergone. They are Christ's because his people share them: Paul speaks of filling up 'that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake' (Col 1:24) and of 'the fellowship of his sufferings' (Phil 3:10). The same verb, perisseuo, 'abound', is used of both sufferings and consolation.

Verse 8

in Asia — The Roman province of western Asia Minor, whose chief city was Ephesus; Paul had spoken of fighting 'with beasts at Ephesus' (1 Cor 15:32). The letter does not name the trouble. 'Out of measure' is kath' hyperbolen, 'pressed' is bareo, to weigh down, and 'despaired' is exaporeomai, to be utterly at a loss.

Verse 9

the sentence of death — Apokrima is a verdict or judicial answer, held 'in ourselves': they expected to die. The purpose was that trust rest not on self but on 'God which raiseth the dead', the God Abraham believed, 'who quickeneth the dead' (Rom 4:17).

Verse 11

helping together by prayer — Synypourgeo, to labour together under another: prayer is treated as working with Paul. 'The gift' is charisma, here the deliverance of v.10, and the aim is thanksgiving 'by many'. Compare 'through your prayer' (Phil 1:19) and 'through your prayers I shall be given unto you' (Philem 1:22).

Verse 12

godly sincerity — Eilikrineia is clearness, purity; 'simplicity' is haplotes, singleness. Both are set against 'fleshly wisdom' (sarkikos) and attributed to 'the grace of God'. The 'testimony of our conscience' (syneidesis) is Paul's ground of rejoicing against the charges answered in vv.15–24.

Verse 15

a second benefit — Charis, here a favour or benefit. The plan of v.16 was a visit going to Macedonia and another returning from it, so Corinth would be visited twice; compare the earlier plan in 1 Cor 16:5, 'I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia'. 'Confidence' is pepoithesis, reliance on the Corinthians' regard (vv.13–14).

Verse 17

yea yea, and nay nay — 'Lightness' is elaphria, levity or fickleness. Paul denies purposing 'according to the flesh' (sarx), with yes and no said in one breath. Christ's rule was 'Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay' (Matt 5:37; cf. Jas 5:12); Paul's word is not 'yea and nay' (v.18).

Verse 19

the Son of God, Jesus Christ — Preached at Corinth by Paul, Silvanus and Timotheus, who 'were come from Macedonia' (Acts 18:5). Unlike a changed travel plan, the message is not 'yea and nay'; 'in him was yea' (nai, the word of sure affirmation). 'God is true' in v.18 is pistos, faithful.

Verse 20

in him Amen — Amen is Hebrew in origin, meaning firm, trustworthy; Christ is himself 'the Amen, the faithful and true witness' (Rev 3:14). Every promise of God finds its yes in him, and the church's Amen is spoken 'unto the glory of God by us'.

Verse 22

sealed us… the earnest — Sphragizo is to stamp with a signet, marking ownership and security; arrhabon is a part of the price paid in advance as pledge of the rest. Eph 1:13–14 joins both: sealed with the Spirit, 'which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession'. Compare 2 Cor 5:5.

Verse 23

I call God for a record upon my soul — Epikaleomai is to invoke; martys is a witness: Paul puts himself under oath, as in Rom 1:9, 'God is my witness'. 'To spare you' (pheidomai) gives the reason for delay: a visit in sharpness he wished to avoid (2 Cor 13:10, 'lest being present I should use sharpness').

Verse 24

helpers of your joy — Synergos is a fellow-worker; 'dominion' is kyrieuo, to lord it over. The apostle disclaims mastery over faith, as Peter bids elders not be 'lords over God's heritage' (1 Pet 5:3). 'By faith ye stand' echoes 1 Cor 15:1, the gospel 'wherein ye stand'.