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2 Corinthians 1:1-11
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
Watch the Sermon
Summary: We are beginning a new series through the book of 2 Corinthians. In this book we are introduced to a different kind of strength, a strength that comes through weakness. We generally measure strength by outward markers: power, beauty, appearance, capacity and position. But Paul introduces us to a strange path to comfort, though afflictions. This is counterintuitive to how our world looks at life and happiness. For followers of Jesus, we live paradoxically, where unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it will not bear fruit. This is true in Jesus’ ministry, and our lives as well.
Review & Apply
In what ways has the second letter to the Corinthians helped you in your Christian life?
How does Paul give evidence of his divine authority as an apostle? What problem was he confronting? How ought this effect and change the way we listen to his teaching?
What does the bible mean by calling Christian's "saints"? Are you a saint or not? Explain.
How does grace form the foundation of the Christian faith?
How is God described in this passage? How ought it change the way we look at life?
In verses 4 and 6, what reason does Paul give for our experiencing afflictions and troubles?
How does our sharing in the sufferings of Jesus show our union with his ministry and life?
How would you describe the message of 1:3-7?
How does Paul describe the profit gained from his unique suffering in 1:8-11?
How is your view of prayer challenged in 1:11?
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