The Causes Of Comfort (1:1-11)

Neal Pollard

Paul decides to follow up on his first letter to the saints at Corinth (cf. 2 Cor. 7:8). He greets them with similar language in both epistles (“the church of God,” “saints,” “grace and peace”), but his purpose in this letter will be very different. This time around, Paul is defending his apostleship, his actions, and his work, while following up to matters and concerns he addressed in the first letter. But the beautiful beginning of this letter stands out as one of the most encouraging greetings in not only the Bible but all of human history. The unmistakeable theme is “comfort.” What are the sources of comfort available to the Christian today?

• GOD THE FATHER (3-4)–“The Father of mercies and the God of all comfort”
• THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH AFFLICTION AND UNDERSTAND (4)–When we go through hard times, it makes us suited and equipped to help others who go through the same thing
• CHRIST (5)–Who has endured suffering like Jesus (Heb. 12:1)? Whose comfort is more abundant than His? 
• THOSE WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED SUFFERING (6-10)–Paul saw the many things he went through as a servant of Christ (see 11:23ff) as accomplishing not only the preaching of the gospel but also the means of encouragement and even comfort for other Christians trying to successfully live the Christian life. Out of despair, affliction, threat of death, weakness, and peril came deliverance and hope. Paul and his co-workers, from these experiences, could help these brethren make it. 
• PRAYER (11)–Our own prayers and those others pray for us

We are living in a world that not only gives no comfort, but also steals comfort. Everyone wants courage, cheer, encouragement, and cheering up, and it is available. But we are called to go to the right sources, the very ones Paul identifies at the start of this letter. May we obtain that comfort ourselves, then share it with others.