2 Corinthians 1:3 kjv
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2 Corinthians 1:3 nkjv
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
2 Corinthians 1:3 niv
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
2 Corinthians 1:3 esv
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
2 Corinthians 1:3 nlt
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
2 Corinthians 1 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 103:8 | The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. | God's merciful nature. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. | Continual mercy. |
| Rom 9:15-16 | For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." | God's sovereignty in mercy. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | Mercy available in time of need. |
| Eph 1:3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing... | Doxology, similar phrasing. |
| 1 Pet 1:3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again... | Praise for God's mercy and regeneration. |
| Psa 23:4 | Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. | God's presence provides comfort in adversity. |
| Isa 40:1 | Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. | God's command to provide comfort. |
| Isa 49:13 | Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth... For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. | God's comfort tied to compassion. |
| Rom 15:5 | May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus... | God as the source of endurance and comfort. |
| Php 2:1 | So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy... | Spirit's role in comfort. |
| Psa 34:18 | The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. | God's nearness in affliction. |
| Psa 147:3 | He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. | God as a healer and comforter. |
| Matt 5:4 | Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. | Promise of comfort for mourners. |
| Luke 6:21 | Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. | Future comfort for the sorrowful. |
| Acts 9:31 | So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. | Comfort provided by the Holy Spirit. |
| 2 Thess 2:16-17 | Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. | Eternal comfort from God. |
| 1 Cor 14:3 | On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. | Consolation as part of spiritual gifts. |
| Psa 71:21 | You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. | God's restorative comfort. |
| Gen 24:67 | Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. | Example of earthly comfort in sorrow. |
| Job 2:11 | Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place...to show him sympathy and comfort him. | Human attempts at comfort (often imperfect). |
| Isa 51:12 | I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass...? | God as the unique comforter. |
2 Corinthians 1 verses
2 Corinthians 1 3 Meaning
2 Corinthians 1:3 is a foundational doxology, a burst of praise to God, setting the theological tone for the entire letter. Paul declares God as uniquely worthy of all blessing, specifically identifying Him as the Father of Jesus Christ, the ultimate source of profound mercies, and the comprehensive origin of all true comfort. This verse anchors Christian hope in God's compassionate nature, especially in times of affliction.
2 Corinthians 1 3 Context
This verse serves as the opening salutation's doxology, directly following Paul's apostolic greeting. It immediately shifts the focus from human salutation to divine praise, setting a tone of gratitude and worship. The historical context for the Corinthians involved various challenges: internal divisions, moral issues, questioning of Paul's apostolic authority, and external persecutions and hardships. Paul himself was undergoing significant suffering for the sake of the Gospel (evident later in chapter 1, especially vv. 8-11). Therefore, a God defined by "mercies" and "comfort" is incredibly relevant to the situation in Corinth and to Paul's personal experience, as he will immediately explain how this divine comfort is shared and experienced. The verse begins a profound discussion on suffering, comfort, and the nature of genuine apostolic ministry, where afflictions are met with divine solace that then equips believers to comfort others.
2 Corinthians 1 3 Word analysis
- Blessed (εὐλογητὸς, eulogētos): This term exclusively describes God. It is not something we do to God, but rather an acknowledgement of His inherent blessedness, worthiness of praise, and supreme goodness. It means "worthy of blessing" or "praise be to." This declaration is an acclamation of who God is.
- be (understood verb, no direct Greek word): Implies an existing state or wish for such a state.
- the God: Refers to the singular divine being.
- and Father: Distinguishes the First Person of the Trinity. This emphasizes His parental role and relationship. It speaks to intimacy and authority.
- of our Lord Jesus Christ: Specifies which God is being blessed—the Father uniquely associated with Jesus. This establishes the Trinitarian nature of the Godhead even in this initial doxology. It acknowledges Christ's deity (Lord) and His role as the Anointed One (Christ).
- the Father of mercies: A unique, rich, and profound title. "Father of" implies the origin or source. Mercies (οἰκτιρμῶν, oiktirmōn) are plural, signifying a comprehensive outpouring of divine compassion, tenderness, and pity. It denotes a visceral, deep-seated sympathy, especially for the afflicted or needy, going beyond mere pity to active compassion.
- and God of all comfort: Another unique and powerful title. "God of" indicates the ultimate provider and source. Comfort (παρακλήσεως, paraklēseōs) is a multifaceted Greek word meaning consolation, encouragement, exhortation, and strengthening. "All" (πάσης, pasēs) implies completeness; God provides every kind of comfort, for every circumstance. This is the central theme that Paul will expand upon in 2 Corinthians, where suffering and divine comfort intertwine.
Words-group analysis:
- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: This phrase is a common doxological opening in Paul's letters (e.g., Eph 1:3, 1 Pet 1:3). It immediately establishes a Trinitarian theological framework, identifying God as both God supreme and Father specifically to Jesus, thus aligning Christian praise with Christology. It affirms God's nature as inherently glorious and worthy of worship.
- the Father of mercies and God of all comfort: This double title emphasizes the profound goodness and compassionate nature of God. The "Father of mercies" highlights God's intrinsic character as the wellspring of deep compassion. The "God of all comfort" broadens this to include every possible form of encouragement and consolation, preparing the readers for Paul's forthcoming discussion on affliction and God's sovereign comfort amidst it. These titles are not merely poetic but profoundly descriptive of God's active engagement with human suffering.
2 Corinthians 1 3 Bonus section
The choice of "Father of mercies" and "God of all comfort" highlights two crucial aspects of God's character relevant to a community facing trials. "Mercies" refers to God's tender pity and compassion, His gut-level response to suffering. "Comfort" refers to the active intervention that brings strength, encouragement, and consolation. This combination shows God is not only sympathetic but also effectively sustains. The doubling of the title ("Father of... and God of...") acts as an emphatic declaration, stressing the absolute nature and universality of His mercy and comfort. This verse is not just an expression of gratitude; it is a declaration of trust and an essential preamble to Paul's discussion of suffering, reassuring the Corinthians of God's loving providence through all their trials. It sets up the later argument that suffering is part of God's plan and becomes a means for others to experience divine comfort through the afflicted.
2 Corinthians 1 3 Commentary
2 Corinthians 1:3 opens Paul's deeply personal and theological letter with a spontaneous expression of profound worship. It immediately shifts the reader's focus from Paul's human persona to the divine source of all comfort and strength, the God of the New Covenant. This doxology is highly functional: it sets the central theme of comfort and affliction for the entire letter. By praising God as the "Father of mercies" and "God of all comfort," Paul establishes God as the ultimate provider of solace for every form of human suffering. This provides the theological foundation for how believers, including Paul, not only endure affliction but are also equipped by God's comfort to minister to others who are hurting (vv. 4-7). It assures the Corinthians that the same compassionate God who sustained Paul in his trials is available to them, and that suffering, far from negating God's goodness, becomes a conduit for deeper divine comfort and broader ministry.