Bible Verse of the Day: October 24, 2021

[Sister]

 

[Hidden In Him]

I liked his comments on this one. The Greek word for "comfort" in these verses is παράκλησις (paraklésis), which can be translated several different ways, although comfort is the best and clearest for this particular passage. But in general, the word means "exhortation," as when someone puts their arm around you to encourage you on in some way. The encouragement here was that they continue serving God even in the midst of suffering afflictions (whether physical or psychological or both) for the faith. This is why Paul mentioned both sufferings and afflictions several times in this passage, and referenced how they suffered so greatly in Asia (likely a reference to their being scourged in Philippi) that they even despaired for life.

The fuller passage reads:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all compassions, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, 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 the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are consoled, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. 8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our affection which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:3-8)

One can only imagine the amount of comfort and consolation and exhortation and encouragement (all ways in which this same Greek word is translated) they were giving to each other in such situations, but applying this passage even to our day to day "troubles" is acceptable as well. It's much the same thing only to a lesser degree. We all go through trials of various sorts, and a little comfort and a little encouragement can sometimes go a long way.