2 Corinthians 1:3 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 tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Blessed be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ -
"God is mentioned here in the relation of the 'Father of the Lord Jesus,' doubtless because it was through the Lord Jesus, and him alone, that He had imparted the consolation which he had experienced, 2 Corinthians 1:5. Paul knew no other God than the 'Father of the Lord Jesus;' he knew no other source of consolation than the gospel; he knew of no way in which God imparted comfort except through his Son. That is genuine Christian consolation which acknowledges the Lord Jesus as the medium by whom it is imparted; that is proper thanksgiving to God which is offered through the Redeemer; that only is the proper acknowledgment of God which recognizes him as the 'Father of the Lord Jesus.’” (Barnes Notes) He comforts His people in all matters of life.
Paul’s "sufferings have brought him a new revelation of God, which is expressed in the new name, 'The Father of mercies and God of all comfort.'...It is in the sufferings and sorrows of life that we discover what we possess in our human friends. Perhaps one abandons us in our extremity, and another betrays us; but most of us find ourselves unexpectedly and astonishingly rich. People of whom we have hardly ever had a kind thought show us kindness [and that not always in the name of Christ]; the unsuspected, unmerited goodness which comes to our relief makes us ashamed. This is the rule which is illustrated here by the example of God Himself. It is as if the Apostle said: 'I never knew, till the sufferings of Christ abounded in me, how near God could come to man; I never knew how rich His mercies could be, how intimate His sympathy, how inspiriting His comfort.' This is an utterance well worth considering. The sufferings of men, and especially the sufferings of the innocent and the good, are often made the ground of hasty charges against God; nay, they are often turned into arguments for Atheism. But who are they who make such charges? Not the righteous sufferers, at least in New Testament times. The Apostle here is their representative and spokesman, and he assures us that God never was so much to him as when he was in the sorest straits. The divine love was so far from being doubtful to him that it shone out then in unanticipated brightness; the very heart of the Father was revealed-all mercy, all encouragement and comfort. If the martyrs have no doubts of their own, is it not very gratuitous for the spectators to become skeptics on their account? 'The sufferings of Christ' in His people may be an insoluble problem to the disinterested onlooker, but they are no problem to the sufferers. What is a mystery, when viewed from without, a mystery in which God seems to be conspicuous by His absence, is, when viewed from within, a new and priceless revelation of God Himself. 'The Father of mercies and God of all comfort,' is making Himself known now as for want of opportunity He could not be known before...” (Expositor's Bible Commentary)
"that we may … comfort them which are in any trouble… The apostle lived, not to himself, but to the Church; so, whatever graces God conferred on him, he considered granted not for himself alone, but that he might have the greater ability to help others [Calvin]. So participation in all the afflictions of man peculiarly qualified Jesus to be man's comforter in all his various afflictions (Isa 50:4-6; Heb 4:15).” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
"The reason Paul can comfort others is that the comforts of Christ are equal to the sufferings that are endured for Him. The sufferings of Christ here cannot mean the Savior's atoning sufferings. These were unique, and no man can share them. But Christians can and do suffer because of their association with the Lord Jesus. They suffer reproach, rejection , hostility , hatred, denial, betrayal, etc. These are spoken of as the sufferings of Christ because He endured them when He was on earth, and because He still endures them when the members of His Body experience them. In all our afflictions , He is afflicted (see Isa. 63: 9). But Paul's point here is that there is a rich compensation for all these sufferings, namely, there is a corresponding share in the consolation of Christ..
The apostle could see good emerging both from his afflictions and his comfort. Both were sanctified by the cross. If he was afflicted, it resulted in consolation and salvation for the saints..., the strength that would see them through their trials. They would be encouraged and challenged by Paul's endurance, and would reason that if God could give him grace to suffer, He could give them grace too. When Samuel Rutherford found himself in 'the cellar of adversity,' as he often did, he began to look around for some of the Lord's 'best wines.' Perhaps he learned to do this from the example of Paul, who always seemed to be able to trace the rainbow through his tears.
The comfort which the apostle received would fill the Corinthians with consolation and inspire them to patient endurance as they passed through the same kind of persecution as he did. Only those who have gone through deep testings know how to speak a fitting word to others who are called upon to go through the same...” (Believer’s Bible Commentary) The words of Scripture- the Promises of God-- that sustained and encouraged Paul, he will likewise share with others going through similar troubles. It is through my troubles that I know Jesus better and the power of His resurrection.
2 Corinthians 1:8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and shall deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
"For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,…” It is good for us to share one another’s burdens. "Trouble which came to us in Asia…Referring to the imminent risk of life which he ran in Ephesus (Ac 19:23-41) when the whole multitude were wrought up to fury by Demetrius, on the plea of Paul and his associates having assailed the religion of Diana of Ephesus. [Paul said that Diana was no god.] The words (2Co 1:9), 'we had the sentence of death in ourselves,' mean, that he looked upon himself as a man condemned to die [Paley]… there is little doubt that, had Paul been found by the mob in the excitement, he would have been torn in pieces; and probably, besides what Luke in Acts records, there were other dangers of an equally distressing kind.” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)
"What displays of providence in Paul’s deliverance, at this and at other times!” (Sutcliffe Commentary) This all happened.. "That we should not trust in ourselves — That, for the future, we should put no confidence in our own wisdom or power to elude the designs of our enemies, nor merely regard human probabilities; but in the greatest and most extreme dangers should learn to repose a cheerful confidence in the power and providence of that God who, at his own pleasure, raiseth the dead by his almighty word; who delivered us from so great a death — As then threatened us; and doth still deliver — In the various dangers with which we are continually surrounded. In whom we trust that he will yet deliver us — From every evil, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom.” (Benson Commentary)
"you also helping together in prayer…" It is not seen in this text, but: "The deliverance of Peter was a most evident answer to prayer, by which we learn that the church should at all times, especially under the pressure of heavy calamities, address the throne of grace with fervent importunity.” (Sutcliffe Commentary)
We are rarely in physical danger for sharing our faith like Paul, but others around the world are.... and Jesus— that life giving Spirit— delivers us from spiritual and physical distresses that comes upon us for sharing our faith. The world, even our brethren, look at us with scorn and would like to stop our mouths. They oft resort to ridicule and slander. Rather than quitting: "We are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. The Lord is able to give peace to the troubled conscience, and to calm the raging passions of the soul. These blessings are given by him, as the Father of his redeemed family. It is our Saviour who says, Let not your heart be troubled. All comforts come from God, and our sweetest comforts are in him. He speaks peace to souls by granting the free remission of sins; and he comforts them by the enlivening influences of the Holy Spirit, and by the rich mercies of his grace. He is able to bind up the broken-hearted, to heal the most painful wounds, and also to give hope and joy under the heaviest sorrows. The favours God bestows on us, are not only to make us cheerful, but also that we may be useful to others. He sends comforts enough to support such as simply trust in and serve him. If we should be brought so low as to despair even of life, yet we may then trust God, who can bring back even from death. Their hope and trust were not in vain; nor shall any be ashamed who trust in the Lord. Past experiences encourage faith and hope, and lay us under obligation to trust in God for time to come. And it is our duty, not only to help one another with prayer, but in praise and thanksgiving, and thereby to make suitable returns for benefits received. Thus both trials and mercies will end in good to ourselves and others.” (Matthew Henry)
2 Corinthians 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. 13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end 14 (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Paul was from good stock- the tribe of Benjamin. His parents had him circumcised on the eighth day, according to the Torah. He had a good reputation as “a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” (Phil 3:1-6) While in this lower state of religion, Paul’s motives were at best mixed, but then he met Jesus on the road to Damascus and he, like David and Nathaniel (Ps 32:2; John 1:47), became "an Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile." He believed on the risen Savior and confessed his sin to Him, submitting to the ordinance of a baptism (Acts 9:18). And from then on in his life, Paul’s only motive was "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Phillippians 3:10-11)
So now Paul’s consciences is clean. His sins are forgiven. "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:2) “It is an old jest to tell of how a man went from door to door saying, 'Flee! All is discovered!' and how the most unlikely people fled. It is said that once an architect offered to build a Greek philosopher a house so constructed that it would be impossible to see into it. 'I will give you double your fee,' said the philosopher, 'if you will build me a house into every room of which everyone can see.' The word Paul uses for purity (eilikrineia, Greek #1505) is most interesting. It may describe something which can bear the test of being held up to the light of the sun and looked at with the sun shining through it. Happy is the man whose every action will bear the light of day and who, like Paul, can claim that there are no hidden actions [nor motives] in his life...
If we are honest, we will have to admit that we seldom do anything with absolutely unmixed motives. Even when we do something fine, there may be entangled with it motives of prudence, of prestige, of self-display, of fear, of calculation. Men may never see these motives, but, as Thomas Aquinas said, 'Man regardeth the deed but God seeth the intention.' Purity of action may be difficult, but purity of motive is still more difficult. Such purity can come to us only when we too can say that our old self has died and Christ lives in us…There were those who said that Paul in his letters did not quite mean what he said. His answer was that there were no hidden meanings in his words.” (Barclay Commentary)
The church sustained Paul by their prayers and acts of love. And Paul sustained them by his teachings. In the Day of Jesus' return, the church and Paul will be each other's boast. And in that day they, and we, will completely understand his purity of motive and doctrine, as all hidden things will be brought to light.
2 Corinthians 1:15 And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit— 16 to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea. 17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? 18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. 20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
The Corinthians and were enraged against Paul and his doctrine. Thus it is today. "Paul had said that he would visit the Corinthians, but the situation had become so bitter that he postponed his visit so as not to give them pain (2 Corinthians 1:23). His enemies had promptly accused him of being the kind of man who made frivolous promises with a fickle intention and could not be pinned down to a definite yes or no. That was bad enough, but they went on to argue, 'If we cannot trust Paul's everyday promises, how can we trust the things he told us about God?' Paul's answer is that we can rely on God and that there is no vacillation in Jesus between yes and no.
Then he puts the matter in a vivid phrase--'Jesus is the yes to every promise of God.' He means this--had Jesus never come we might have doubted the tremendous promises of God, might have argued that they were too good to be true. But a God who loves us so much that he gave us his Son is quite certain to fulfil every promise that he ever made. He is the personal guarantee of God that the greatest and the least of his promises are all true.
Although the Corinthians were slandering Paul, there remains this salutary truth--the trustworthiness of the messenger affects the trustworthiness of the message. Preaching is always 'truth through personality.' And if a man cannot trust the preacher, he is not likely to trust the preacher's message. Amongst the Jewish regulations regarding the conduct and character of a teacher, it is laid down that he must never promise anything to a class which be cannot or will not do. This would be to accustom the class to falsehood. Here is a warning that promises should never be lightly given, for they may well be as lightly broken. Before a man gives a promise, he should count the cost of keeping it and make sure that he is able and willing to pay it.
Paul goes on to say two great things.
(i) It is through Jesus that we say ‘Amen’ to the promises of God. We finish our prayers by saying, 'through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.' When we have read scripture we frequently conclude it by saying, ‘Amen.' Amen means 'So let it be,' and the great truth is that it is not just a formality and a bit of ritual; it is the word that expresses our confidence that we can offer our prayers with every confidence to God and can appropriate with confidence all his great promises, because Jesus is the guarantee that our prayers will be heard and that all the great promises are true.
(ii) Finally, Paul speaks about what the King James Version calls the earnest of the Spirit. The Greek word is arrabon (Greek #728). And an arrabon was the first instalment of a payment, paid as a guarantee that the rest was sure to follow… Everyone knew this word. It is the same idea as is in the Scots word arles which was a token payment made when a man was employed or a house bought, and a guarantee that the full contract would be honoured. When Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit as an arrabon (Greek #728) given us by God, he means that the kind of life we live by the help of the Holy Spirit is the first instalment of the life of heaven and the guarantee that the fullness of that life will some day open upon us. The gift of the Holy Spirit is God's token and pledge of still greater things to come.” (William Barclay's Daily Study Bible)
23 Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. 24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.
"Here is the echo of unhappy things. As we have seen in the introduction, the sequence of events must have been this. The situation in Corinth had gone from bad to worse. The Church was tom with party divisions and there were those who denied the authority of Paul. Seeking to mend matters, Paul had paid a flying visit to Corinth. So far from mending things, that visit had exacerbated them and had nearly broken his heart. In consequence he had written a very severe letter of rebuke, written with a sore heart and through tears. It was just for that very reason that he had not fulfilled his promise to visit them again, for, as things were, the visit could only have hurt him and them.” (William Barclay's Daily Study Bible)