2 Corinthians 1:1-2
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

† Paul begins by affirming his apostleship, not by human will, but by God's calling.
† The letter is addressed not only to Corinth but to all the saints in Achaia, showing its wide scope.
† Clement of Rome (1 Clement 47) refers to Paul's authority and his writings to Corinth, confirming their early recognition.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

† God is described as the source of mercy and comfort.
† Comfort received is meant to be shared with others who suffer.
† Origen (On Prayer 30.2) connected God's comfort with His faithfulness in trials.

2 Corinthians 1:5-7
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation, or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. And our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are partners in our sufferings, so also you are in our comfort.

† Paul ties his sufferings with Christ, not as defeat but as fellowship.
† Affliction and comfort serve the church, building endurance.
† Ignatius (Letter to the Romans 5) viewed suffering for Christ as the path to sharing His glory.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9
For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction which occurred in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.

† Paul confesses his near-despair, showing his humanity.
† Trials forced dependence on God who raises the dead.
† Eusebius (Ecclesiastical History 2.25) mentions Paul's many afflictions as evidence of God's sustaining power.

2 Corinthians 1:10-11
Who rescued us from so great a danger of death, and will rescue us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, if you also join in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons in our behalf for the favor granted to us through the prayers of many.

† Deliverance in the past is the basis of hope for future deliverance.
† Prayer is participation in God's work of deliverance.
† Tertullian (On Prayer 28) stressed the power of corporate prayer for God's people.

2 Corinthians 1:12-14
For our pride is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end, just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason for pride just as you also are ours on the day of our Lord Jesus.

† Paul boasts only in a clear conscience and godly sincerity.
† His writings are plain, not deceptive, and their mutual pride will be revealed in Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:15-17
In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing, that is, to pass your way into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea. Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I decide, do I decide according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time?

† Paul defends himself from accusations of being unreliable.
† His plans changed by necessity, but his sincerity did not.

2 Corinthians 1:18-20
But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us, by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but has been yes in Him. For as many as the promises of God are, in Him they are yes, therefore through Him also is our Amen to the glory of God through us.

† God's promises are fulfilled in Christ, all answered with "yes."
† Paul's message is consistent because Christ Himself is consistent.
† Justin Martyr (Dialogue with Trypho 119) affirmed that all promises are fulfilled in Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

† The Spirit is the seal and guarantee of God's promises.
† The pledge shows certainty of God's completed work.

2 Corinthians 1:23-24
But I call God as witness to my soul, that it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth. Not that we domineer over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, for in your faith you are standing firm.

† Paul delayed his visit not from carelessness but to spare them grief.
† His authority is not to dominate but to serve for their joy and faith.
† Origen (Commentary on Matthew 14.3) explained true leadership as service, not control.

How it applies to us today
† 2 Corinthians 1 reminds us that God's comfort sustains us in affliction so we may comfort others.
† Trials teach dependence on God who raises the dead.
† All promises find their fulfillment in Christ, and the Spirit guarantees them.
† Leaders in Christ's church must serve with sincerity, seeking the joy and growth of the flock.

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †

Source Index
† Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 47 - Paul's authority to Corinth
† Origen, On Prayer 30.2 - God's comfort in trials
† Ignatius, Letter to the Romans 5 - suffering as sharing Christ's glory
† Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 2.25 - Paul's afflictions
† Tertullian, On Prayer 28 - corporate prayer
† Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 119 - promises fulfilled in Christ
† Origen, Commentary on Matthew 14.3 - leadership as service