Paul finds comfort in God himself, the same Lord who permits trials and supplies the strength and consolation to endure them.
Les shows that Paul's consolation abounded by Christ (2 Cor. 1:5), and that the Lord who allowed the pressure also gave the strength to go through it (clips 2, 7). When Paul despaired of life, he was pointed to trust in God who raises the dead (2 Cor. 1:9; clip 3). Paul also thanked God, who always caused him to triumph (2 Cor. 2:14; clip 4).
2 Corinthians 1:5 — Paul directly connects abundant suffering with abundant consolation through Christ, showing where his comfort comes from.
2 Corinthians 1:9 — Paul explains that the sentence of death was given so he would trust not in himself but in God who raises the dead.
Scripture shows that Paul's comfort was rooted in Christ. In 2 Corinthians 1:5 he writes, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” The following verses connect suffering with consolation: “as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation” (2 Cor. 1:7). Paul also describes being pressed out of measure, above strength, even despairing of life; yet the purpose was “that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead” (2 Cor. 1:8-9). In 2 Corinthians 2:14 he thanks God “which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” Scripture presents Paul's comfort as divine provision in the midst of affliction.
Les emphasizes that Paul was “just as human as we are” — he could get down, and he could get rejoicing (clip 4). His comfort wasn't from a pain-free life but from the Lord who permitted the affliction. Les says, “the same Lord that permits persecutions and testings to come into the life is the same Lord that's going to provide the strength that we need to go through it” (clip 2). He also points to God's promise: the Lord who permits the pressure is the Lord who has the strength to bring believers through it (clip 7). Les shows that Paul's “sentence of death” in himself taught him not to trust in himself but in God who raises the dead (clip 3). Paul thanked God, who always causes him to triumph (clip 4), and Les notes Paul could still love and brag on the Corinthians even when they mistreated him (clip 0). He also observes that Paul's past as a persecutor made him the perfect candidate to endure abuse, and he was ready to give it all up (clip 5).
Paul's comfort came from knowing that the same Lord who permitted his trials also provided strength and consolation (2 Cor. 1:5; clip 2). He thanked God, who always caused him to triumph (2 Cor. 2:14; clip 4). He also found comfort in the resurrection hope — God who raised the dead and delivered him (2 Cor. 1:9; clip 3).
Les explains that Paul had the sentence of death in himself (clip 3). He was pressed out of measure, above strength, so that he despaired even of life (clip 7; 2 Cor. 1:8). But the purpose was “that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead” (2 Cor. 1:9). The despair drove Paul to trust in God rather than in his own strength.
Les says these are “tremendous lessons for everyone” because Paul was human just like us (clip 4). The same Lord who permits persecution and testing will provide strength (clip 2). Believers under pressure can trust that God has the strength to bring them through, just as He did for Paul (clip 7).
Les points out that despite the bad things said about Paul, he still loved the Corinthians and bragged about them to other congregations (clip 0). This affection and connection with other believers was part of his attitude amid trials.
Love for Believers as Comfort
Les shows that Paul's comfort included loving and bragging on the Corinthians even when they mistreated him, revealing a relational dimension to Paul's strength.
Catalog of Paul's Afflictions
Les lists Paul's afflictions, necessities, distresses, stripes, imprisonments, and labors to show the constant battle Paul faced.
Consolation Abounds by Christ
Les teaches that the same Lord who permits persecution and testing is the same Lord who provides the strength to go through it.
Trusting God Who Raises the Dead
Les explains that Paul's sentence of death taught him not to trust in himself but in God who raises the dead and who delivers.
Triumph Through God Despite Distress
Les contrasts Paul being pressed down and distressed with being always triumphant, thanking God who causes triumph.
Paul's Past Carried Him
Les suggests Paul's past as a persecutor made him the perfect candidate to take abuse, and Paul was ready to give it all up.
Paul's Human Frailty and Hardships
Les lists weariness, hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness to show Paul was human and endured real physical privations.
The Lord's Strength Through Affliction
Les stresses the promise that the Lord who permits affliction is the same Lord who has the strength to bring believers through it.
2 Corinthians 1:5: For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
This is Paul's direct statement that his comfort comes through Christ, even as his sufferings abound.
2 Corinthians 1:7: And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
Paul links suffering with consolation, showing that those who share in Christ's sufferings will also share in comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:9: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
Paul explains that his despair was purposeful, turning him from self-trust to trust in the God who raises the dead.
2 Corinthians 2:14: Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Paul thanks God for the triumph he experiences in Christ despite his trials.
2 Corinthians 6:4-5: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
This catalog shows the many physical and outward trials Paul endured as part of his ministry.
2 Corinthians 11:26-27: In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Paul lists further hardships that show the reality of his constant suffering.
Paul says his consolation abounds by Christ (2 Cor. 1:5). He thanks God who always causes him to triumph (2 Cor. 2:14), and he trusts in God who raises the dead (2 Cor. 1:9).
Paul lists afflictions, necessities, distresses, stripes, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watchings, and fastings (2 Cor. 6:4-5). He also mentions perils, weariness, hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness (2 Cor. 11:26-27).
Yes. Les notes Paul was pressed out of measure, above strength, and even despaired of life (2 Cor. 1:8). But the purpose was to trust not in himself but in God who raises the dead (clip 3).
Les teaches that the Lord who permits the affliction is the same Lord who provides the strength to go through it (clip 2). God also promises that those who share in sufferings will share in consolation (2 Cor. 1:7).
Watch the Teaching: Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow — 2 Corinthians 7:10 Explained