Paul’s second letter was sent about a year after his first, according to notes in my study Bible. Those may have actually been his 2nd and 4th letters. Apparently, there were two other letters written to this congregation that did not make it into our Holy Scriptures. The second letter recorded in the Bible is believed to be the 4th and final letter Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. Having that background is helpful to understand the timing and references made. Paul had quite a relationship with this Greek congregation.
Paul is quick to offer words of comfort, pointing to our great comforter. In Paul’s words, “God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.” When we go through challenging times in our lives, it is always helpful to imagine we are not alone, with all the comfort God showers on us. For people who don’t have a relationship with God, they don’t understand the peace and hope that accompany that comfort. Sometimes when we’re in the thick of our messiness, we can lose sight of the great comforter holding us together. Continue reading “2 Corinthians 1:1-2:4 – Be Comforted”
