Paul's Letter of Comfort - 2 Corinthians
Written A.D. 56
To comfort the Corinthians in their sorrows, Paul writes confirming his love for them (1-2), explains the sacrificial nature of Christian service (2:14--7:5; 10--13) and exhorts them to share in the ministry through personal bequests (8--9).
Chapters 1:1--2:13 General Purposes for Suffering
Paul praises God as the "Father of all mercies, the God of all comfort." Suffering is not foreign, but "abundant" in the Christian's life. Yet suffering is not pointless, but no matter what our affliction God comforts us so that we may be able to comfort others in their afflictions (1:3-5). Paul notes that his suffering furthered the spread of the Gospel (1:6-11), and that suffering is to design change within us (1:12--2:4). Paul encourages the Corinthians to comfort he who was suffering under church discipline by now restoring him to the assembly (2:5-11).
Chapters 2:14--7:16 The Joy's and Sorrows of Ministry
Paul interrupts his story about meeting Titus by praising God for His sufficiency in ministry (2:14--3:6). Paul offers thanks for being appointed a minister of a superior New Covenant (3:7-18), and for its openness and clarity (4:1-6). However, sufferings accompany even a minister of this Covenant, which encourage the believer to look forward to the resurrection life ahead (4:7--5:10). Paul describes the motives of ministry (5:11-15), the message of the ministry (5:16-19), and the manner of the ministry (5:20--6:10), concluding that the suffering endured by the Corinthians through the ministry of Paul has brought Godly repentence into their lives (6:11--7:16).
Chapters 8:1--9:15 Material Sharing with Others who Suffer
Paul reminds the Corinthians of others who are suffering materially, and of others who are giving even out of their own poverty (the Macedonians) in order to encourage them to help through their own giving those in need. Paul reminds them of their rich spiritual wealth, and relative abundance when compared to their fellow Christians suffering in Jerusalem. Paul ends with the principle of "he who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly" to remind them that giving is expedient for them personally.
Chapters 10:1--12:18 Paul's Apostolic Leadership
Paul reminds the Corinthians of the sphere of ministry God entrusted to him (10:1-18), to boast not in himself but in his servanthood (11:1-29). This is necessary to combat the false apostles going about deceiving others for personal gain. Paul reminds them of his own sufferings in the ministry (11:30--12:18) again not to boast but to present the Lord Whose "grace is sufficient" even in suffering.
Chapters 12:19--13:14 Concluding Encouragement
Paul admonishes the Corinthians that even though he has been drastic with them he expects them to repent and change Titus has reported that they have already begun to express their sacrificial love toward others, but are to do so all the more. Rather than test Paul, they are to test themselves for conformity with the truth.
Quine's View of the Key Verse: 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 may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
