BOOK 47 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

2 Corinthians 1

2 Corinthians book home•Chapter 1 of 13•24 verses

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2 Corinthians 1 Overview

Paul blesses the God of all comfort, explains how suffering equips believers to comfort others, and defends his integrity after changing travel plans. God’s promises are yea in Christ, and believers are established, anointed, sealed, and given the earnest of the Spirit.

2 CorinthiansBook

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Before you read 2 Corinthians 1

Coming from

1 Corinthians 16 closes with giving instructions, ministry plans, and final exhortations to strength and charity.

In this chapter

Leads into

Paul explains why he wrote with tears rather than making another painful visit. A disciplined offender who has been sufficiently punished should now be forgiven, comforted, and confirmed in love. Paul then describes gospel ministry as a triumphal savor of Christ, life to some and death to others.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Paul’s change of travel plan was pastoral, not deceitful; much of the letter answers accusations against his integrity.

The sealing and earnest language strongly supports present security and God’s ownership of believers.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

God comforts sufferers so they can comfort others

Affliction can become ministry rather than wasted pain.

Christian integrity matters in ministry

Paul rejects manipulative double-speech.

God’s promises find their certainty in Christ

The believer’s security rests in God’s confirming and sealing work.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Romans 8:16–23

The Spirit’s presence accompanies present suffering and future hope.

Ephesians 1:13–14

Paul again describes believers as sealed with the Holy Spirit, the earnest of inheritance.

1 Peter 5:9–10

Peter likewise places suffering within God’s strengthening grace.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not promise that God always removes affliction quickly

Paul speaks of comfort in affliction, not exemption from it.

Do not read changed plans as automatic dishonesty

Paul explains his motive and pastoral concern.

Do not weaken the sealing language into temporary probation

The Spirit is described as God’s earnest/guarantee.

Read 2 Corinthians 1 watching for…

Every form of comfort language.

Why Paul despaired even of life.

The relationship between prayer and deliverance.

Paul’s defense of sincerity.

The sealing and earnest of the Spirit.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-7Paul blesses God as the Father of mercies who comforts believers in all tribulation 8-14Paul recounts severe affliction and explains confidence in God who raises the dead 15-24Paul explains his changed travel plans and says his aim is not to lord over their faith

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:

Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

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.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

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.

And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

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:

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

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.

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.

For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;

As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

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.

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?

But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

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.

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.