Rather than focusing on the content itself, I wanted to draw out some of the implicit factors, those that are unseen, from the passage, especially on the relational aspect. The letter was undoubtedly written by Paul, probably the main author, with the help of Timothy. The recipients were the saints, the followers of Christ, in Corinth.
Firm Identity in God (verses 1 to 2)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:1-2)
The first part of the letter portrays a typical opening statement across Paul’s letters. Often, considering the opening statement too typical, we tend to overlook the importance of it. However, I urge all readers to allocate sufficient time to meditate on the “typical” introduction and greetings. A few important factors are as follows.
Paul had a very strong assurance of his identity. The very beginning of the letter made this clear. Paul introduced himself in relation to Christ. His identity was solely rooted in Christ. He was an apostle, the literal meaning of which was a messenger. Paul was sure that his role and identity was rooted in Christ and empowered by the will of God. The will of God was to send His son and make Him known. Paul had a clear understanding of his role and identity.
From this firm rootness and being assured of the identity, Paul permeated his confidence in Christ throughout the letter, including the First Corinthians and especially in these two chapters of the Second Corinthians. Having this strong anchor, although he was rebuking Corinthians in the first letter, his confidence in God, he rebuked the Corinthians of their clear wrong practices. The continuation can be seen in the second letter of Corinthians.
From the strong assurance of his identity in Christ enabled him to permeate confidence. From this strong assurance, he positioned himself to share immense suffering that his team had undergone in Asia to the saints at Corinth. From this confidence, he told the Corinthians to listen to his message, which in fact, a message of Christ. From this assurance, Paul asked them to forgive the person (2 Corinthians 2) to accept because he was fully aware of Satan’s strategy.
Growing Paul (verses 3 to 5)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)
The process of knowing and experiencing God has no bounds. Even for Apostle Paul, this was not an exception. Let’s unfold and uncover something deeper from these three verses.
Paul began by praising God. For what? Paul praised a particular aspect of God here: God of comfort. Comfort is repeated multiple times and not a typical word used in other letters by Paul. That leads us to question why Paul introduced this new term in this passage.
We have to jump a little ahead to verse 8 where Paul and his team were under an incredible affliction that led them to utter despair in Asia (many scholars think the event that led even Paul to an utter despair of death was recorded in Acts 18: the uprising of Demetrius). Although the details of the affliction and sufferings that Paul and his team underwent were not clear, what was certain was the excruciating degree of mental and physical sufferings that afflicted Paul. Through the excruciating pain and thoughts of even physical death, Paul and his team were granted deliverance by the LORD. This experience at Asian (v.8) must have given a new enlightenment and deeper understanding of God – especially, God of Comfort. Even Apostle Paul was growing. Through suffering, Paul spiritually grew closer to a true understanding of and experience of God of comfort.
A similar comparable experience was recorded in the Old Testament by Job. Job underwent a time of extreme trials, losing most of his family members and all of his wealth, compounded by argumentative his close four friends. After all these, God appeared and questioned Job. Through this process, Job realized the gap between his finite wisdom and infinite God, which naturally led him to repent and be in awe of God. Similar to Paul, through suffering, Job also encountered a new knowledge of God.
In suffering and affliction, people can choose to grow. God uses those vehicles to spur growth in each of His followers. Apostle Paul was not an exception.
Sharing and Request to Connect with Corinthians (verses 6 to 11)
In this section, we can see Paul’s relation with the Corinthian church and the earnestness with which he wanted to share his experience with them. In the passage, we see that Paul was acknowledging that the readers were the sharers of his sufferings.
Also, Paul was making a request. He was asking them to be aware of Paul’s situation and pray for his team. That Paul being vulnerable to the Corinthians reflected his trust and dependence on the Corinth church.
Confidence that stems from the identity (v12)
For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you (2 Corinthians 1:12)
What is the common denominator for both humility and confidence? I dare to say they come from understanding one’s true identity. The only way to understand one’s true identity is to know the creator, God and Christ Jesus. Knowing the true identity sets one free – confidence in God leads people to be content and be humble because they do not have to prove anything to other people.
Connecting from verse 1 and 2, Paul’s firm identity in Christ enabled him to display a sheer confidence to the Corinthians. At first glance, these verses may seem rather strange. However, Paul stated that he and his companion conducted above the highest standard, especially toward the Corinthians. He was confident in holiness and godly sincerity.
Was this a sign of hubris, or arrogance? No. His mindset stemmed from a firm identity in Christ and Paul’s love of God was fully manifested to the Corinthians in a variety of forms – even including, a series of severe rebuke and admonishment.
Conclusion
A strong identity in Christ is essential to grow further in Him and to withstand adverse situations. Even apostle Paul, when faced with a tremendously difficult external situation, fell into despair. Yet, his strong identity anchored in Christ catapulted him to experience God of comfort. In Christ, Paul was confident enough to rebuke and admonish Corinthians to an everlasting way of Christ. I pray that you will grow in Christ to have your identity firmly rooted in Him in this tumultuous world.
Give Life 