2COR 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and
doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
2COR 1:11 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 was in life threatening trouble in Asia. He
gave the glory to God for delivering them. and then Paul brings up the
role of prayer in it. In verse 11 he tells this church that they helped by
praying for them. Many people were praying for Paul and God answered the
prayer. Prayer plays a big role in the ministry. God is honored by
our asking and He delights in showing mercy. God resists the proud and
gives grace to the humble. We need to humble ourselves and realize that
without Him we can do nothing. Our preachers, teachers, and missionaries
can accomplish nothing unless God moves. We need to realize that and act
accordingly. We need to be in prayer for those in the work. Not only
for the preachers but also for all the Sunday school teachers and workers.
And like Paul when God answers the prayers, then we
need to give Him the glory, but also acknowledge and thank those who were
praying for us.
Thought On This Chapter
2COR 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father,
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
This was not just a nice way to start a letter.
Paul really meant it. He wanted them to be a receiver of God's grace and
His peace. And there is a great truth here. Peace and Grace come
from God.
2COR 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Our God is wonderful. He is the Father of
mercies. He delights in showing mercy. He has no shortage of it.
All can come to Him for mercy and it would not even put a dent in His supply.
And one of the mercies that He gives is comfort. Not the kind of comfort
that the world thinks of. We are not talking luxury cars and fancy homes.
Look at the next verse.
2COR 1:4 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.
His comfort does not keep us from hard times. It
does not protect us from persecution and tribulation. His comfort in the
trial. When you are under persecution His comfort is there. God's
comfort is not dependant upon circumstances; God's comfort is above
circumstances.
2COR 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
In verse 5 we see a principal, as our sufferings abound
because of being in Christ, so our consolation by Christ abounds the more.
You will never suffer anything for Christ without Christ being there with you.
He will let trials come, but He will also comfort you thru them. Stay
close to Jesus. He has the Grace, mercies, and comfort to see you thru
anything. Amen.
2COR 1:1 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:
2COR 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2COR 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2COR 1:4 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.
2COR 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
2COR 1:6 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.
2COR 1:7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
2COR 1:8 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:
2COR 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
2COR 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
2COR 1:11 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.
2COR 1:12 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.
2COR 1:13 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
2COR 1:14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.
2COR 1:15 And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
2COR 1:16 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.
2COR 1:17 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?
2COR 1:18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
2COR 1:19 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.
2COR 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2COR 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2COR 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
2COR 1:23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
2COR 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
General Information About the Book of 2 Corinthians.
The book of 2 Corinthians shows that the Corinth
believers were growing as Christians.
This book was written by Paul (see notes on 1
Corinthians).
The key words are ministry and comfort.
The key verses are:
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient
for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon
me.
2Co 1:3 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2Co 1:4 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.
2COR 1:8 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:
2COR 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves,
that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
2COR 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and
doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
2COR 1:11 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.
Trouble came Paul's way in
Asia. He says in verse 8 that they were pressed out of measure and above
strength. Paul says that they despaired even of life.
In verse 9 and 10 Paul talks about how they trusted in God and not in
themselves. He gives the credit for deliverance to God.
Not all Christians will have their lives threatened like Paul, but trouble will
come to all Christians.
When the trouble comes we need to not trust in
ourselves. We need to trust in God. Verse 9 says we are to trust "in
God which raiseth the dead:" A God who is powerful enough to raise the
dead is powerful enough to help with your problems.
We serve an Almighty God. A God who knows about
and cares about your problems.
He is worthy of our
trust. We need to trust in Him and not in ourselves.
