2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;… Notice — I. THE PARTICULAR AFFLICTION TO WHICH THE APOSTLE REFERS. The whole paragraph speaks of his trials, but at ver. 8 we read of one in particular extremely severe. In many parts of Asia Minor Paul suffered persecution, but if to one place more than another the text refers, it is to Lystra (Acts 14:8-20). II. THE COMFORT HE ENJOYED IN THIS OR IN ANY OTHER AFFLICTION TO WHICH HE MAY REFER. Paul was comforted — 1. By various occurrences under Providence. At Lystra, the scene of his terrific sufferings, sat a cripple who "had faith to be healed." And did not the apostle rejoice to see that thus, wherever he went, there were those whom sovereign grace designed to bless? When a prisoner at Rome, "the things which happened to him fell out to the furtherance of the gospel." In Macedonia God, who comforteth those that are cast down, comforted him by the coming of Titus. 2. By communion with his Lord. 3. By his hope of heaven. III. THE HAPPY INFLUENCE OF PAUL'S TRIALS IN PROMOTING THE RELIGION OF HIS FELLOW-CHRISTIANS (vers. 4, 6). In two ways the suffering and steadfastness of the apostle would benefit the Corinthians. 1. By his example they would be animated to encounter similar difficulties. 2. By his writings, full of Christian experience, they would derive all that instruction and appeal which an actual endurance of sorrow and support would be sure to imprint by his pen. IV. THE GRATEFUL, ADORING SPIRIT WHICH THE GOODNESS OF GOD OCCASIONED IN HIM. (ver. 3). (Isaac Taylor.) Parallel Verses KJV: Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; |
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