CHAPTER 1

(A.D. 60)

INTRODUCTION

¹Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the Will of God, and Timothy our brother (the Calling of the Apostle is meant by the Lord to serve as the defacto leader of the Church, and does so by the Message given to the Apostle; the salutation presents a high honor for Timothy), unto the Church of God which is at Corinth (his second Epistle to this Church, of which we have record), with all the Saints which are in all Achaia (refers to all of Greece):

²Grace be to you (which comes by the Cross) and Peace (Sanctifying Peace, which is the result of Grace) from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Who paid the price for this at the Cross).

THANKSGIVING

³Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (presents Jesus as Deity and God as His Own Unique Father, which cannot be said of anyone else), the Father of Mercies (Merciful Father), and the God of all comfort (solace and consolation);

⁴Who comforts us in all our tribulation (does not deny the fact of tribulation, but does guarantee comfort in the midst of tribulation), that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God (we will comfort others by the same means which we have been comforted).

⁵For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us (pertains to Faith being placed in the Cross, and us experiencing its glorious benefits), so our consolation also abounds by Christ. (We can offer this consolation of the Cross to any Believer.)

⁶And whether we be afflicted (the offence of the Cross [Gal. 5:11]), it is for your consolation and Salvation (what the Lord has shown us about the Cross will be greatly to your benefit), which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer (you will suffer the offence of the Cross as well): or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and Salvation. (The comfort is in the Cross, which always guarantees that which is needed.)

⁷And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as you are partakers of the sufferings, you shall be also of the consolation. (They who suffer the offence of the Cross will also experience the comfort of the Cross.)

⁸For we would not, Brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia (doesnt say exactly what), that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life (if Satan hates anything, he hates the Cross; so he will attack those who Preach Christ and Him Crucified, and do so powerfully):

⁹But we had the sentence of death in ourselves (Paul thought he was going to die), that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead (the trial was meant to teach not only submission, but absolute trust in God [Jer. 17:5]):

¹⁰Who delivered us from so great a death (the Believer cannot die until the Lord deems his work as finished), and does deliver (the former spoke of past tense, while this speaks of present tense): in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us(we trust the Lord for the future);

¹¹You also helping together by prayer for us (proclaims Pauls deep conviction of the effectiveness of intercessory prayer [Rom. 15:30-31; Phil. 1:19; Phile., Vs. 22]), that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. (He felt that the prayers of these Believers contributed greatly toward his deliverance, and no doubt it did!)

POSTPONEMENT

¹²For our rejoicing is this (boasting in the Lord), the testimony of our conscience (a good conscience), that in simplicity and Godly sincerity (the simplicity of Christ, which refers to the Cross [II Cor. 11:3]), not with fleshly wisdom (that which is outside of the Cross), but by the Grace of God (made possible by the Cross), we have had our conversation (conduct) in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. (What the Cross has made possible in my life is meant for your abundant benefit.)

¹³For we write none other things unto you, than what you read or acknowledge (what we write to you is what we are); and I trust you shall acknowledge even to the end (the Message of the Apostle wouldnt change, and he wouldnt change);

¹⁴As also you have acknowledged us in part (some in the Corinthian Church did not acknowledge Pauls Apostleship, so they didnt acknowledge all that he wrote as being from God), that we are your rejoicing (rejoicing in the fact that they had Paul as their Teacher), even as you also are ours (rejoicing in the fact that he was able to teach them and watch them grow in Grace) in the Day of the Lord Jesus. (This refers to the Judgment Seat of Christ.)

¹⁵And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before (the Apostle had every confidence that the majority in the Church at Corinth would receive him favorably), that you might have a second benefit (that he may give them more teaching on the Cross);

¹⁶And to pass by you into Macedonia (he planned to stop at Corinth on his way), and to come again out of Macedonia unto you (refers to a second visit he had hoped to make; neither one actually came to fruition at that time), and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea (to leave from Corinth to Judaea; the new plan is now to not divide his visit at Corinth, but to make one stay in that city as presented in I Cor. 16:6).

¹⁷When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? (This refers to him changing his mind concerning the proposed visit to Corinth, at least regarding the date.) or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh (evidently Paul was being accused by some of not knowing the Mind of the Spirit), that with me there should be yes yes, and no no? (Some were saying that his yes didnt mean yes, and his no didnt mean no!)

¹⁸But as God is true, our word toward you was not yes and no (not fickle).

¹⁹For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, Who was Preached among you by us (places the argument over Pauls integrity squarely on the Gospel he Preached), even by me and Silas and Timothy, was not yes and no, but in Him was yes (carries the idea of One Who changes not [I Sam. 15:29; Mal. 3:6]).

²⁰For all the Promises of God in Him (in Christ)are yes, and in Him Amen (means these Promises will not change), unto the Glory of God by us (our Preaching the Cross to you will bring Glory to God).

²¹Now He (God) which stablishes us with you in Christ (God is capable of keeping the people He saves), and has Anointed us, is God (we have these benefits because of what Jesus did at the Cross);

²²Who has also sealed us (a seal of ownership), and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (This presents a guarantee that God will ultimately give us the balance of all He has Promised, which Jesus paid for at the Cross [Rom. 8:23].)

²³Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul (gives the reason for delaying his visit), that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. (He had opted instead to send his First Epistle to Corinth, which would prepare the way for a visit when he did come. He felt by the leading of the Spirit that this would be the best way to address the problems at Corinth.)

²⁴Not for that we have dominion (domination) over your Faith (actually a reference to the previous phrase of not sparing them), but are helpers of your joy (rather, he wanted to be a Blessing): for by Faith you stand. (Faith in Christ and the Cross presents the only way one can stand.)