³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. ⁶ If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. ⁷ Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
⁸ For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. ¹⁰ He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. ¹¹ You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

1) According to these verses, when do Christians find comfort?
It’s important to note in this passage that comfort is given as a result of experiencing affliction.  The comfort that Paul is talking about is not “being comfortable,” or the absence of trouble.  Rather, this comfort is given by God when we face suffering.

2) What purposes do our suffering and afflictions bring according to these verses?
Verse 6 clearly says that one reason we are afflicted is so we can comfort others in their affliction.  Verse 9 states that Paul and others were afflicted so that they would rely on God.  And verse 5 says that when we suffer, we share in Christ’s sufferings.

3) Why would Paul want to be sure that the Corinthians were aware of the suffering he endured in Asia (v. 8)?
Paul is trying to communicate the faithfulness of God to comfort us in our afflictions.  Paul himself had endured many great sufferings, yet he had experienced deliverance.  This experience was a testimony worth proclaiming to the Corinthian church, and emphasized his point that God gives us what we need to endure the afflictions that come our way. Paul was sharing his story to point others to God’s faithfulness!

4) What does verse 11 tell us about how we can help those who are suffering?
Paul commands the Corinthian believers to help them by prayer, and states that blessings are granted to them through people’s prayers.  Praying for those who are suffering and afflicted helps them to patiently endure, and this endurance causes others to thank God.

1) According to these verses, when do Christians find comfort?
The Christian life is full of comfort—but it is not comfortable.  God promises us trouble in this world, but He also promises to be our Comforter.  Am I seeking a comfortable life?  Or am I selflessly following Christ, accepting the trials that come with it, knowing that God and His church will comfort me?

2) What purposes for our suffering and afflictions are given in these verses?
Although we may not see purpose in our suffering, it is not wasted.  God is working in us to achieve His purposes for His glory, and not a drop of our tears are in vain.  Cling to this truth, sisters, when you are tempted to despair!

3) Why would Paul want to be sure that the Corinthians were aware of the suffering he endured in Asia (v. 8)?
There is a time to speak of your suffering, that by proclaiming God’s faithfulness you can encourage a believer who is struggling.  Is there someone you know who is fighting a battle?  Can your testimony encourage her?  Make plans to write a letter or make a coffee date to share how God has comforted you. Or consider, sharing your story through Faces of Grace!

4) What does verse 11 tell us about how we can help those who are suffering?
Prayer is our weapon in spiritual battle.  Even a spiritual giant like Paul recognized that the blessings his ministry experienced were due in part to the faithful prayers of the saints.  Commit to spending time each day praying for those who are afflicted, that they might be strengthened, and might experience God’s comfort.

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We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

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