- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 5
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 3
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 13
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 17
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 21
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 9
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 24
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 11
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 25
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 12
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 26
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 15
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 27
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 18
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 28
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 21
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Mark 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 22
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Mark 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 24
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 27
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 2
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 28
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 37
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 39
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 15
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 40
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 16
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 41
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 18
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 42
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 19
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 43
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 20
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 44
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 24
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 45
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 50
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 3
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 2
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 3
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 10
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 5
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 13
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 14
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 15
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 16
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 9
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 17
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 10
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 20
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 11
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 21
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 12
- Acts 1: The Ministry of the Gospel
- Exodus 13: Paying the Price
- Acts 2: Faith Founded on Fact
- Exodus 14–18: When Security Vanishes
- Acts 7: Eternal Glory
- Exodus 19: The Covenant to Come
- Acts 8: Counterfeit Gospels
- Exodus 20: The Holy Splendor of God
- Acts 9: From Persecutor to Proclaimer
- Exodus 32: God’s Inexpressible Glory
- Acts 10: The Gospel Goes to the Gentiles
- Leviticus 16: The Holiness of God
- Acts 13: Paul’s Missionary Journeys
- Numbers 13: The Book of Wanderings
- Acts 15: How Are We Saved?
- Numbers 14: The Faithfulness of God
- Acts 16: Interrupted Plans
- Deuteronomy 1: “Beware Lest You Forget”
- Acts 17: How to Spread the Good News
- Deuteronomy 2: Knowing God
- Acts 18: Encouragement through Fellow Believers
- Deuteronomy 3: Mercy and Judgment
- Acts 19–20: The Power and Word of God
- Acts 20–21: The Cost of Following Christ
- Deuteronomy 4: Leaving a Legacy
- Acts 22: Common Ground without Compromise
- Deuteronomy 5: The Purpose of the Law
- Acts 23: The Centrality of the Resurrection
- Deuteronomy 6: The Pitfalls of Prosperity
- Acts 24: Living in Light of the Resurrection
- Deuteronomy 7: Warnings about the World
- Acts 25: The Witness of Waiting
- Deuteronomy 8: Our Daily Bread
- Acts 26: Agents of Eternal Change
- Deuteronomy 27: A Covenant of Obedience
- Acts 27: Surviving the Storm
- Deuteronomy 28: Idolatry of the Heart
- Acts 28: Service and Encouragement
- Deuteronomy 29: Anticipating the New Covenant
- Romans 1: A Practical Theology
- Deuteronomy 30: God’s Merciful Covenant
- Romans 2: The Universal Moral Law
- Deuteronomy 32: Learning from the Past
- Romans 3: Righteousness in Christ
- Deuteronomy 34: The Death of Moses
- Romans 4: The Grace of Justification
- Joshua 1: Listening to the Lord
- Romans 5: Reconciliation with God
- Joshua 2: Rahab’s Faith
- Romans 6: Fighting the Flesh
- Joshua 3: Relying on God
- Romans 7: A Struggle with Sin
- Joshua 4: Setting Up Memorials
- Romans 8: Living in the Spirit
- Joshua 6: Obeying God
- Romans 12: Putting Faith into Practice
- Joshua 23: Remembering God’s Faithfulness
- Romans 13: Christians and Government
- Joshua 24: Reviewing God’s Purposes
- Romans 14: Harmony in Diversity
- Judges 2: A Pattern of Idolatry
- Romans 15: Who Are We?
- Judges: In Need of a King
- 1 Corinthians 1: The Foolishness of God
- Judges 6–7: Severe Mercy
- 1 Corinthians 2: Relying on the Spirit
- Judges 14: Resisting Our Flesh Signature
- 1 Corinthians 3: Only One Foundation
- Judges 15: The Power of the Spirit
- 1 Corinthians 6: A Call to Imitate Christ
- Judges 16: The Consequences of Disobedience
- 1 Corinthians 7: Marriage and Celibacy
- Ruth 1: A Faithful Remnant
- 1 Corinthians 8–10: Tempering Knowledge with Love
- Ruth 2: A Cameo of Grace and Goodness
- 1 Corinthians 9: Surrendering Our Rights
- Ruth 3: Behind the Scenes
- 1 Corinthians 13: The Love of Christ in Us
- Ruth 4: The Backstory of a King
- 1 Corinthians 15: Resurrection of the Dead
- 1 Samuel 1: Presenting Our Prayers to God
- 2 Corinthians 1: A Ministry of Comfort
- 1 Samuel 2: A Humble Honor
- 2 Corinthians 4: Living Letters
- 1 Samuel 3: When God Speaks
- 2 Corinthians 5: Groaning for Glory
- 1 Samuel 8: Hope for the Future
- 2 Corinthians 8: The Generosity of Christ
- 1 Samuel 9: Trusting the True King
- 2 Corinthians 9: Radical Generosity
- 1 Samuel 10: Our Gracious King
- 2 Corinthians 12: Evidence of the Faith
- 1 Samuel 15: A Rebellious Redefinition
- Galatians 5: Freedom from the Law
- 1 Samuel 16: The Deception of Appearances
- Galatians 6: What Is Salvation?
- 1 Samuel 17: Spiritual Excellence
- Ephesians 1: The Blessing of the Father
- 2 Samuel 5: Hidden Sins
- Ephesians 2: Peace in Uncertainty
- 2 Samuel 7: Honor God in Your Work
- Ephesians 3: In Christ
- 2 Samuel 11: Midlife Crisis
- Ephesians 4: A Worthy Walk
- 2 Samuel 12: The Discipline of the Father
- Ephesians 5: Being Imitators of God
- 1 Kings 1: Our Transient Yet Purposeful Life
- Ephesians 6: The Armor of God
- 1 Kings 2
- Philippians 1
- 1 Kings 3
Where do you turn when you are despondent and in despair? If you are in need of encouragement, 2 Corinthians 1 provides comfort in the face of adversity, reminding us of the truth of the gospel in the midst of false teaching. Not only that, it teaches us how to transform the comfort we receive from Christ into comfort for our fellow believers.
A Letter for Today
Paul wrote 2 Corinthians as a thanksgiving that the unrepentant sinners he had addressed in his previous letter had repented and turned to Christ. However, there was still a minority that opposed the gospel, so Paul took the time in this letter to defend his apostolic calling and the truth of the gospel against false teachers. As he writes, his letter often takes a tone of joy at the triumph of the message of Jesus Christ.
Although it may not seem as though this letter relates to us—after all, Paul wrote to address a specific situation in a historical church—we face many of the same heresies today. Old heresies put on new faces and masquerade in our society as the truth. Paul’s defense ought to encourage us, because it addresses the same issues we see today.
One such issue is that of authority: we like to see ourselves as the ultimate authority, choosing truth for ourselves. But Paul reminds us that there is a true authority, that of Jesus Christ. There is such a thing as truth, and it is not up to us to decide. When He comes again, we will recognize His authority and the truth of the gospel.
A Ministry of Comfort
As we struggle with spiritual warfare, Paul reminds us to turn to other Christians for fellowship. We do not have to face the world, the flesh, and the devil alone. Instead, God gives us fellow believers to remind us to look to Him. We are bound together by the Holy Spirit as one Body in Christ.
Paul reminds us in this chapter that we can mediate the comfort we receive from Christ to others. As we experience trials, we can better empathize with those who face similar difficulties. Paul writes that Jesus “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. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:4–5).
For more on suffering, read Shaped by Suffering by Ken Boa and Jenny Abel.
Suffering reminds us to ask the following questions:
- Who is God?
- What has He done for us?
- Where would we be without Him?
- What does He want to do in us and through us?
As you answer these questions and receive comfort from God, you are given a ministry. Your suffering is redemptive; it allows you to comfort others.
The truth of the gospel is that our adversity does not have the final word. It drives us to grace, and it binds us together with fellow believers. It reminds us of the basics of the gospel: the love of the Father and the suffering of the Son for our sake. The truth of the gospel is a comfort in the midst of sorrow.
This teaching is based on Ken’s Handbook to Scripture.
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