2 Corinthians 1:11 kjv

Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

2 Corinthians 1:11 nkjv

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.

2 Corinthians 1:11 niv

as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

2 Corinthians 1:11 esv

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

2 Corinthians 1:11 nlt

And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

2 Corinthians 1 verses

2 Corinthians 1 11 Meaning

This verse conveys the profound interconnectedness within the Body of Christ, emphasizing mutual reliance through prayer. It expresses Paul's expectation that the Corinthian believers would actively participate in interceding for him and his companions. This partnership in prayer would culminate in a shared thanksgiving for God's divine deliverance or "grace-gift" extended to Paul, which was a direct answer to the prayers offered by many. The underlying principle is that when many pray and God acts, many should then unite in giving thanks, demonstrating communal acknowledgment of God's work.

2 Corinthians 1 11 Context

Chapter 1 of 2 Corinthians opens with Paul's deeply personal account of severe suffering, likely experienced in the Roman province of Asia, particularly Ephesus (vv. 8-10). He explains that he faced such overwhelming pressures and perils, even despising life itself, so that he would learn to rely not on himself but on God who raises the dead. This verse (1:11) immediately follows this profound declaration of God's past deliverance from a deadly peril, establishing a causal link between the Corinthians' prayers, God's intervention, and the resulting corporate thanksgiving. Paul understands God's comfort and salvation (described in vv. 3-7) not merely as individual experiences but as communal ones that benefit the entire body of believers. Their prayers were not peripheral but instrumental in his recent salvation, prompting a shared responsibility for giving thanks. The immediate context underscores a principle: suffering leading to divine comfort, which in turn leads to prayer and thanksgiving within the Christian community, highlighting their active partnership in his ministry.

2 Corinthians 1 11 Word analysis

• You also helping together: synypourgountōn (συνυπουργούντων) – The prefix syn- (συν-) means "with" or "together." The root hypourgeō (ὑπουργέω) means "to serve, minister, assist, or help." This signifies an active, cooperative, and participatory role, not merely passive agreement. The Corinthians are not just supporters but active co-laborers through their prayerful engagement. This partnership is vital to Paul.
• by prayer: dia proseuchēs (διὰ προσευχῆς) – The preposition dia (διὰ) means "through" or "by means of," indicating prayer as the instrumentality or medium through which their "helping together" occurs. Proseuchē (προσευχή) is a general term for prayer, often indicating direct address to God, implying earnestness and reverence.
• for us: hyper hēmōn (ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν) – "On our behalf" or "for our benefit." This emphasizes the intercessory nature of their prayers, seeking divine favor or intervention for Paul and his associates.
• that: hina (ἵνα) – A purpose clause. It indicates the intended outcome or purpose of their cooperative prayer: to elicit thanksgiving.
• for the gift: ek tou charismatos (ἐκ τοῦ χαρίσματος) – Charisma (χάρισμα) denotes a "grace-gift" or "favor," something freely given by God's grace. In this context, it refers to the specific deliverance Paul and his companions experienced, which he earlier described as being raised from the dead (v. 9). While charisma can refer to spiritual gifts for ministry, here it broadly signifies God's merciful rescue as an act of His grace.
• bestowed upon us: Refers to Paul and his associates. The charisma or divine favor was granted to them directly.
• by the means of many persons: ek pollōn prosōpōn (ἐκ πολλῶν προσώπων) – Literally, "out of many faces." This emphasizes the collective and widespread nature of the intercessory prayers. It highlights that the "gift" (deliverance) came because of the numerous individuals participating in prayer. Each "face" represents an individual believer contributing their supplications.
• thanks may be given: eucharistēthē (εὐχαριστηθῇ) – Derived from eucharisteō (εὐχαριστέω), meaning "to give thanks." It is in the passive voice, implying that the thanksgiving will naturally arise from the many.
• by many: dia pollōn (διὰ πολλῶν) – "Through many" or "by means of many." This signifies that the gratitude and praise to God will be a communal and widespread expression, commensurate with the collective prayer effort.
• on our behalf: hyper hēmōn (ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν) – Again, "for us" or "for our benefit." The thanksgiving will be directed toward God for the specific favor shown to Paul and his team, but it is expressed by the multitude on their behalf, completing the cycle from corporate prayer to corporate praise.

2 Corinthians 1 11 Bonus section

The parallelism of "many persons" praying (ek pollōn prosōpōn) and "many" giving thanks (dia pollōn) emphasizes a crucial spiritual principle: those who bear witness to the work of God through prayer should also participate in acknowledging His grace through praise. This creates a balanced spiritual ecosystem within the body of Christ, where communal burden-bearing (prayer) naturally leads to communal rejoicing (thanksgiving). It guards against self-centered spiritual experiences, promoting instead a corporate identity and shared spiritual journey where the blessing of one leads to the gratitude of all. This cyclical movement from intercession to manifestation to celebration deepens unity and strengthens faith.

2 Corinthians 1 11 Commentary

2 Corinthians 1:11 encapsulates a fundamental dynamic within the Christian community: mutual dependence and participation in God's work. Paul presents a profound cycle of interdependence: God's deliverance (the charisma) is granted in response to the corporate prayers of many believers (ek pollōn prosōpōn), leading directly to widespread thanksgiving and praise by those very same individuals (dia pollōn). This isn't merely a polite request for prayer; it underscores the spiritual efficacy of collective intercession.

Paul clearly identifies the Corinthians as co-laborers ("helping together"), highlighting that their active intercessions are not supplemental but integral to the divine plan of protection and deliverance for God's servants. The term "charisma" here points to God's gracious intervention in Paul's extreme suffering, indicating that the recent deliverance from the "sentence of death" (1:9) was a tangible act of divine grace, mediated by the prayers of the saints. This communal participation in both suffering and solace is foundational to the gospel message. The suffering of apostles brings comfort to the churches (1:6), and in return, the prayers of the churches sustain the apostles. This establishes a divine economy where God uses human partnership in prayer to effect His will, which then redounds to His glory through collective thanksgiving. The communal aspect of Christianity is not just fellowship, but a vibrant, intercessory network that fuels God's work and acknowledges His glory.