Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan - Part 9Sample

This chapter follows about a year after the end of 1 Corinthians, and much has happened between the two letters. Paul had a painful visit with the Corinthians before travelling to Macedonia, where he wrote a painful letter. The text of which has not been kept. He writes this new letter from Macedonia, as well, after learning about a positive change of heart on their behalf.

Paul begins by praising God for His comfort for those who are afflicted and defending himself against several complaints from some in the church.

2 Corinthians 1:5-6 (NIV): "For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer."

When Paul refers to suffering, he connects the suffering as a believer with the suffering of Christ and that we find our comfort in God, and through that, we can comfort one another in hardship and trouble times. All this suffering was not in vain but for the gospel. This was an assurance of Paul knowing that in suffering, God will deliver them and continue to deliver Paul and his co-workers in victory. It was out of this that Paul had to defend his integrity and accusations that he lacked transparency and honesty due to his change of plans to visit the Corinthians. For us, Christ is the yes to all of God's promises, and this was the reason his re-visit was delayed, due to his yes to follow the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1: 21-22 (NIV): "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."

A Question to Ponder: You might also feel like Paul suffering for the gospel and also being persecuted for your obedience to Christ. How and what will your argument be to reassure people that you do everything for the advancement of the gospel?