II CORINTHIANS: Dealing with Tribulations; "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of mercies and of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation!"

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (II Corinthians 2:1-2)

In Paul's previous letter to the church in Corinth, he admonished them for allowing false teachers to come in after he had left them and lead them to disobeying the gospel the way it was originally taught to them.  I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. (I Corinthians 4:14-17)

Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? (I Corinthians 4:18-21)  Paul desired to return to the church in Corinth, but we will study a little later that he was not able to do so.  Probably a good thing for them, because based on how they responded to the first letter would determine if he came with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness.  

Fortunately for them, Paul sent Timothy instead, and instructed the church in Corinth that upon his arrival, ...if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren. (I Corinthians 16:10-11)  After delivering Paul's first letter, and then returning to him with an update of how the church in Corinth responded, Paul was convicted by the Holy Spirit to send a second letter.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 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 comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 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. (II Corinthians 1:3-7)

We must remember based on what we've previously studied about Corinth, that life was very difficult for the Christians in that area.  Corinth was a very immoral, even amoral society.  That anyone in that area became a Christian at all was by a miracle of God, but to continue being faithful to God in the midst of all the tribulations and sufferings was only by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Paul was reassuring the church in Corinth that the rest of them weren't off somewhere having fun and enjoying life while they were struggling; but blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God; because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many. (II Corinthians 1:8-11)  Paul stated here that the apostles and disciples suffering was to the point that they despaired even of life, that they wanted to die, but God delivered them, and the believers in Corinth helped together in prayer for them. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16)

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus. (II Corinthians 1:12-14) Paul was making it clear that none of them could boast that one group of them was suffering more for the kingdom of God than another group, because they all were suffering, regardless of who they were or where they were.  

Jesus answered them, "...These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:31, 33)  Jesus gave us a guarantee that in this world we will have tribulation, especially those of us who are Christians; “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me." (John 15:18-22)  But in spite of the world's hatred and the tribulation that comes with it, in Christ Jesus you may have peace!