II Corinthians Chapter 1
This second letter written to the church at Corinth was written approximately one year after the first letter was written. Despite all of the problems that were present among the believers, Paul calls them saints and reminds them of the many benefits they have in Christ. Paul also meant for this letter to be shared with the other churches too, and ultimately with us as we who are a part of the body of Christ are also called saints.
Let's Reflect
1. We learn that God is a God who can comfort us in all afflictions. The word comfort in the Greek is paraklesis and it means to strengthen, to help, to make strong. Paul was definitely someone who had been through some very difficult times and truly understood what it meant to be comforted by the Holy Spirit. Have you been through a difficult time recently? Do you see how God is your comforter?
Spurgeon said this about Paul, “Here was a man, who never knew but what he might be dead the next day, for his enemies were many, and cruel, and mighty; and yet he spent a great part of his time in praising and blessing God.”
2. According to verse 4 what is an amazing way that God uses our afflictions for His purpose?
3. When the believer experiences afflictions (or sufferings), who does Paul say we share afflictions with?
Isaiah 53:3-4He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
And Jesus says to us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
4. It is a beautiful thing within the body of Christ to be comforted by another believer who has experienced the same suffering that you are going through. God uses believers to help comfort one another. How did Paul describe this exchange in verse 7?
5. Paul wanted the believers at Corinth to understand that he was not immune to suffering. How extreme was the suffering that Paul had experienced?
6. What is something that we learn through difficult circumstances? See verse 9.
7. What was another way the believers at Corinth could be a spiritual help to Paul and his team? See verse 11.
8. In this exchange of comforting one another and praying for one another there is spiritual growth amongst believers. When we see spiritual growth happening, what will be a natural response amongst the church? See verse 14.
9. In verses 15-19 Paul responds to accusations made against him that he was unreliable or untrustworthy. They thought this of him because Paul had said previously that he was going to come and visit the church but was not able to. Instead, he sent them a letter. Originally, he had planned to visit them on his way to Macedonia and on the way back. Did he make the second visit according to verse 23? We will read more about this in the next chapter.
10. Paul knew that their accusations of him were wrong because he preached about Jesus who was reliable and trustworthy. And Paul knew that he was following hard after Jesus. Paul and his team were men commissioned by God and filled with the Holy Spirit to accomplish His purpose. This fact should have been reason enough to not accuse them of being untrustworthy. The ministry that Paul and his team were a part of was empowered by the Holy Spirit. He mentions 3 things that the Holy Spirit had done for them (and for us as believers). The Holy Spirit had anointed them, sealed them, and also put on their hearts a down payment for the inheritance that is to come. What word is used in verse 22 and means that the Holy Spirit, living within our hearts, is our seal of a down payment?
