The God of all comfort

Wesley Wright

Lighthouse Bible Church

Sunday, December 7, 2025

 

Title: The God of all comfort

2CO 1:1-11

 

Background:

Corinth = roughly 40 miles west of Athens

Paul met Priscilla, Aquila in Corinth

Center of commerce

 

Paul is an apostle of Jesus Christ, he says to begin the chapter (2CO 1:1-2). He made this appeal in his first letter to the same folks — 1CO 1:1-3

 

Apostle means sent one and Corinth is part of the particular mission God fashioned for part work with Gentiles.

ACT 9:10-16

MAT 10:1-8;

LUK 9:1-6

 

This isn’t the only time that Paul will have to defend his ministry and qualifications: GAL 1:12-24

 

Paul calls God the God of all comfort (2CO 1:3-5) and says he comforts those in the ministry, which is important given their many troubles.

 

All of the apostles, Paul included, underwent some tribulation. We as believers should expect it too.

 

2TI 3:10-12

 

Affliction is a guarantee, but so is the comfort that God provides with it.

 

Paul was afflicted: ACT 20:17-27

 

Jesus Christ was physically afflicted, and he was distraught over the death He knew was coming: LUK 22:39-46

 

God provided comfort to the scattered people of Israel, too, even as he punished them.

EZE 11:16-20

 

Paul tells Timothy to endure hardship as part of his duties to the ministry.

2TI 4:5-8

 

Remember that you’re in a long line of others who also suffered —you are not alone.

HEB 11:32-40

 

Those persecutions are part of how we identify with the life of Jesus, who suffered on our behalf that we might be saved.

PHI 3:10-14

 

Others sought to avoid persecution.

GAL 6:12-18

 

Peter and the other apostles gladly accepted persecution for His name’s sake:

ACT 5:33-42

 

That same Gamaliel mentioned in Acts 5 was Paul’s mentor: ACT 22:1-10

 

Paul makes it clear to his readers that should not be concerned with his welfare and the others who were spreading the gospel.

 

God comforts us in our afflictions.

PSA 86:12-17

MAT 5:3-12

JOH 14:18-27

 

Not only were Paul and the others comforted in their affliction, they were working toward the consolation (comfort) and salvation of their listeners.

 

To some extent, our charge is the same. The ways we suffer here in the flesh may well benefit others and the body of Christ more generally.

 

Notice that Paul writes that he and others had been delivered from death (2CO 1:10-11) and that God will continue to deliver them.

 

God delivering from persecution is a guarantee, whether you die or not.

DAN 3:14-18

 

Paul and the others would suffer but they would reap the eventual — eternal — benefits. It’s the same with us.

GAL 6:7-10

 

In conclusion:

Paul knew suffering came with his work

Comfort comes with his work, and ours more generally

Suffering for the gospel can bring benefits for others + identify us with Him