Our Hope For You Is Firm

"Paul, an apostle of CHRIST JESUS, by the will of GOD, and Timothy, our brother, to the Church of GOD in Corinth, and to all the saints in the whole of Achaia.  May you receive grace and peace from GOD, our FATHER, and from CHRIST JESUS, the LORD.

Blessed be GOD, the FATHER of CHRIST JESUS, our LORD, the all-merciful FATHER, and the GOD of all comfort!  HE encourages us in all our trials, so that we may also encourage those in any trial, with the same comfort that we receive from GOD.

For whenever the sufferings of CHRIST overflow to us, so, through CHRIST, a great comfort also overflows.  So, if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we receive comfort it is also for you.  You may experience the same comfort when you come to endure the same sufferings we endure.  Our hope for you is most firm; just as you share in our sufferings, so shall you also share in our consolation." - 2 Corinthians 1:1-7

(From the very beginning, Paul describes his own situation as an apostle of CHRIST--wandering, persecuted, ill--to the Corinthians who know how to take it easy.  While they feel proud of their large community and look for brilliant preachers [as will be seen below], Paul shares in the passion of CHRIST.  Paul suggests that they too will know the true consolation of GOD when it is their turn to suffer for HIM.

The word comfort will often occur in this letter.  GOD would not be satisfied by just teaching us resignation: comfort is the experience of the presence of GOD, but relies in part on the signs that show HIM acting among us.  The two go together.  JESUS told us to ask so that GOD would answer and HIS responses would be a source of joy [John 15:24].  In any case, GOD does not free us of trials but gives strength and perseverance to overcome them.)

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