2 Corinthians 1:4 kjv
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2 Corinthians 1:4 nkjv
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.
2 Corinthians 1:4 niv
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:4 esv
who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:4 nlt
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
2 Corinthians 1 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 23:4 | "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." | God's comforting presence in the darkest times. |
| Psa 119:50 | "This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me." | God's word as a source of comfort in distress. |
| Isa 51:12 | "I, even I, am he that comforteth you..." | God identifies Himself as the supreme Comforter. |
| Isa 66:13 | "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you..." | God's comforting love compared to a mother's. |
| Rom 5:3-5 | "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope..." | Tribulation has a purposeful, refining effect leading to hope. |
| Rom 12:15 | "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." | Call to empathize and share in others' joy and sorrow. |
| Rom 15:4 | "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." | Scripture provides patience and comfort leading to hope. |
| Rom 15:5 | "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus." | God as the source of patience and consolation. |
| Php 4:6-7 | "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds..." | God's peace guards hearts amidst anxiety. |
| 1 Th 3:7 | "Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith." | Believers comforting one another through shared faith. |
| 1 Th 4:18 | "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." | Mutual comfort in light of Christ's return. |
| 1 Th 5:11 | "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do." | Exhortation to reciprocal comfort and edification. |
| 2 Th 2:16-17 | "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." | God and Christ are the source of everlasting comfort and hope. |
| Heb 4:15-16 | "For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." | Christ's empathy enables Him to provide help and grace. |
| Heb 12:11 | "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." | God's discipline, though painful, yields righteous fruit. |
| Jam 1:2-4 | "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." | Trials are meant to produce endurance and maturity. |
| 1 Pet 1:6-7 | "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." | Trials purify faith and bring ultimate praise to God. |
| 1 Pet 4:12-13 | "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." | Suffering is a participation in Christ's experience. |
| Jn 14:16-18 | "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever..." | Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as the permanent Comforter. |
| Jn 14:26-27 | "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost... shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance..." | The Holy Spirit's role as teacher and peace-giver. |
| Col 1:24 | "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:" | Paul shares in Christ's suffering for the church. |
| 2 Cor 12:9-10 | "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness... For when I am weak, then am I strong." | God's strength is revealed through human weakness and suffering. |
| Eph 4:1-2 | "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;" | Walk in love and patience, bearing with one another. |
2 Corinthians 1 verses
2 Corinthians 1 4 Meaning
2 Corinthians 1:4 reveals a profound truth about God's comfort amidst human suffering. It teaches that God, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (as stated in the preceding verse), actively provides solace and strength to believers in every form of affliction. The ultimate purpose of this divine comfort is not merely personal relief, but a transformative empowerment. By experiencing God's tender care and strengthening presence in their own trials, believers are then equipped, through the very same comfort they received, to minister to and encourage others who are experiencing various troubles and distresses. It establishes a redemptive cycle where personal suffering, met with divine comfort, becomes the wellspring for communal ministry and compassionate service.
2 Corinthians 1 4 Context
The second letter to the Corinthians begins with a salutation and a powerful expression of Paul's personal experience of God's comfort in tribulation. Paul had faced immense suffering, specifically mentioning a severe affliction in Asia in verses 8-10, which he describes as "burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life." This opening section, particularly verses 3-7, lays the foundational theology for the rest of the letter: suffering is an integral part of Christian life and ministry, and God's comfort is not an escape from it but the means to endure it and to be empowered for service.
Historically, the Corinthian church was a complex body with various internal conflicts, doctrinal confusions, and challenges to Paul's apostleship. Paul's authority had been questioned, and some regarded his physical sufferings as a sign of weakness or divine displeasure, contrasting sharply with their Greco-Roman ideals of strength and success. By beginning with his own experience of tribulation and God's faithful comfort, Paul subtly vindicates his apostolic authenticity. He presents himself not as one immune to hardship, but as a servant who understands and ministers out of personal identification with suffering. The theme of God's comfort received and then extended helps Paul bridge the gap with the Corinthians, fostering empathy and explaining the divine purpose behind his trials and theirs. It highlights that God uses believers' afflictions not only for their own good but also for the edification and strength of the broader community of faith.
2 Corinthians 1 4 Word analysis
- Who: Refers directly back to "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort" in verse 3. It emphasizes God's consistent nature as the source of comfort.
- comforteth: Greek: parakaleō (παρακαλέω). This word signifies more than mere sympathy. It means "to call alongside," "to encourage," "to strengthen," "to exhort," "to counsel," "to console." It implies active support, providing courage and hope, not just passive pity. It is a continuous action, implying God's constant, ongoing provision.
- us: Primarily Paul and his fellow workers (like Timothy), serving as apostles and examples. By extension, it represents all believers who experience God's comfort.
- in all: Greek: pas (πᾶς). Emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's comfort—it applies to every kind of, every instance of, or the entire span of the tribulation experienced.
- our tribulation: Greek: thlipsis (θλῖψις). Literally means "a pressing, crushing, squeezing." It refers to affliction, distress, trouble, persecution, hardship, burdens that bring great pressure or anguish. It acknowledges the very real, sometimes overwhelming, difficulties believers face.
- that: Greek: hina (ἵνα). Introduces a purpose clause. God's comfort is given for a specific reason and has a clear aim, indicating a divine design behind believers' suffering and subsequent comfort.
- we may be able: Greek: dynamai (δύναμαι). To have the power, strength, or capability. God's comfort doesn't just relieve but empowers and enables the believer to function effectively even in weakness.
- to comfort: Greek: parakaleō (παρακαλέω). The same verb as previously, emphasizing that the kind of comfort we give others is precisely the kind of comfort we have received from God – it is active, empowering, and divinely sourced.
- them which are in any trouble: Specifies the broad recipient group for this comfort—anyone in thlipsis (affliction). The experience is shared, and the ministry is open to all who suffer.
- by the comfort: Greek: paraklēsis (παράκλησις), the noun form of parakaleō. Refers to the "act of comforting," "encouragement," or "exhortation." This specifies the means by which comfort is given. It is not our own ingenuity or human wisdom, but the very essence of God's divine consolation that is passed on.
- wherewith we ourselves are comforted: Underlines the experiential and reciprocal nature. It's the specific, direct comfort from God that qualifies and enables. It suggests authenticity and empathy born out of shared experience.
- of God: Re-emphasizes the ultimate source. All comfort, its nature, and its power originate from God alone. This guards against reliance on human abilities or philosophies.
Words-group analysis:
- "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation": This phrase establishes God as the sovereign and comprehensive provider of comfort, actively supporting believers through every personal affliction. It sets the stage for a divine work preceding human ministry.
- "that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble": This critical purpose clause articulates the missional outcome of divine comfort. Our own suffering and subsequent comfort from God serve to equip and enable us to minister to others in similar (or any) distress. It highlights a shared human experience of suffering that unites believers in compassionate ministry.
- "by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God": This emphasizes the authenticity and source of the comfort given to others. It is not self-derived but directly transferred from God. Our comfort for others is effective and empathetic because it flows from our personal experience of God's comfort during our own struggles. It highlights a cycle where God's initial grace equips us to be conduits of that very grace.
2 Corinthians 1 4 Bonus section
- The Role of the Holy Spirit (The Paraclete): While not explicitly mentioned in this specific verse, the extensive meaning of parakaleō and paraklēsis strongly echoes the person and work of the Holy Spirit, often referred to as the "Paraclete" (Gk. Paraklētos) in the Gospels (e.g., Jn 14:16, 26). The Spirit is "one called alongside" to help, comfort, intercede, and counsel. Thus, God's comfort described here is often mediated through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life, connecting this divine attribute to the active third person of the Trinity.
- Paradox of Weakness and Strength: This verse subtly introduces a key Pauline theme, especially prominent in 2 Corinthians: God's power is often made perfect in human weakness (2 Cor 12:9-10). It is in affliction, when believers feel their limits, that God's comforting and empowering presence becomes most evident, allowing them to extend that strength to others. The minister is effective not despite suffering, but often because of it.
- Christian Empathy and Community: The verse lays a theological foundation for true Christian empathy. One can only authentically comfort others in their troubles if they have themselves experienced trouble and, crucially, God's comfort in it. This creates a basis for genuine, heart-to-heart ministry and fosters a community where shared vulnerability becomes a channel for divine grace and mutual support.
2 Corinthians 1 4 Commentary
2 Corinthians 1:4 powerfully articulates the purpose of Christian suffering and divine comfort within the larger narrative of God's redemptive work. Paul, acutely aware of his own tribulations, immediately draws the Corinthians' attention to God as the "God of all comfort." The Greek term paraklēsis denotes an active, strengthening encouragement rather than mere sympathy, implying God "comes alongside" the sufferer to infuse them with strength and hope. This divine paraklēsis is not an end in itself; it serves a higher purpose. When believers experience this deep, personal comfort in all their varied thlipsis (afflictions or pressures), they are simultaneously being equipped to minister.
The verse outlines a spiritual relay: God comforts the afflicted (Paul and fellow believers) not just for their own relief, but "that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble." This implies that the shared experience of affliction, sanctified by God's comfort, creates a unique capacity for empathy and effective ministry. It's the "comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" that becomes the very instrument for ministering to others. Our own suffering, when met with divine grace, ceases to be merely a burden and transforms into a powerful credential for ministry, allowing us to bear others' burdens with understanding, not just platitudes. This divine comfort creates solidarity among believers, binding them together in a common journey through suffering, supported by a God who perfectly understands and actively supports their distress. It forms the bedrock for a ministry rooted in personal testimony and empowered by divine presence.