Grace and Peace

2Corinthians 1:1-4 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforted 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. 

‘Apostle’ a delegate, one sent with the full power of attorney to act in the place of another, the sender remaining behind to back up the one sent. In the case of Christians, it means God sends them to do what He, Himself would do if He went. It is found 81 times and translated apostle 78 times; messenger twice (8:23; Php. 2:25); and once he that is sent (John 13:16).

‘Timothy’ associated with Paul in the address of the epistles to Philippians and Colossians, and with Paul and Silas in the two epistles to the Thessalonians.

‘Achaia’ Greece. This epistle was sent to all the congregations in that country.

‘Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Note that grace and peace come equally from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

‘Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort’ God is called: The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (1:3; 11:31; Eph. 1:3; 3:14; Col. 1:3); the Father of Mercies (1:3); the God of all Comfort (1:3); the Father of Glory (Eph. 1:17); the Father of All (Eph. 4:6); the Father of Spirits (Heb. 12:9); the Father of Lights (Jas. 1:17); the God of Peace (Php. 4:9).

‘Comfort’ [Greek: paraklesis] translated “intreaty” (8:4); “comfort” (1:3-4; 7:4, 13; Acts 9:31; Rom. 15:4;); “exhortation” (8:17; Acts 13:15; Rom. 12:8; 1Cor. 14:3; 1Thess. 2:3; 1Tim. 4:13; Heb. 12:5; 13:22); and “consolation” (1:5-7; 7:7; Luke 2:25; 6:24; Acts 4:36; 15:31; Rom. 15:5; Php. 2:1; 2Thess. 2:16; Phm. 1:7; Heb. 6:18)

‘Comforted’ [Greek: parakaleo] to call to the aid of one. Used 15 times in this epistle, but translated 4 ways: “beseech” (2:8; 5:20; 6:1; 10:1; 12:8); “desire” (8:6; 12:18); “exhort” (9:5); and “comfort” (1:4, 6; 2:7; 7:6, 7, 13).

‘Tribulation’ [Greek: thlipsis] burdened (8:13); anguish (John 16:21); affliction (2:4; 4:17; 6:4; 8:2; Mark 4:17; 13:19; Acts 7:10-11; 20:23; Php. 1:16; 4:14; Col. 1:24; 1Thess. 1:6; 3:3, 7; Heb. 10:33; Jas. 1:27); tribulation (1:4; 7:4; Matt. 13:21; 24:21, 29; Mark 13:24; John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Rom. 2:9; 5:3; 8:35; 12:12; Eph. 3:12; 2Thess. 1:4, 1:6; Rev. 1:9; 2:9, 10, 22; 7:14); persecution (Acts 11:19); and trouble (1Cor. 7:28).