2 Korintus 1:3-8

Thanksgiving for God’s Comfort

1:3 Blessed is ¹  the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 1:4 who comforts us in all our troubles ²  so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble ³  with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 1:5 For just as the sufferings ⁴  of Christ ⁵  overflow ⁶  toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you. ⁷  1:6 But if we are afflicted, ⁸  it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer. 1:7 And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in ⁹  our sufferings, so also you will share in ¹⁰  our comfort. 1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, ¹¹  regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, ¹²  that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living.

[1:3]  ¹ tn There is no verb in the Greek text; either the optative (“be”) or the indicative (“is”) can be supplied. The meaning of the term εὐλογητός (euloghtos) and the author’s intention at this point in the epistle must both come into play to determine which is the preferred nuance. εὐλογητός as an adjective can mean either that one is praised or that one is blessed, that is, in a place of favor and benefit. The meaning “blessed” would be more naturally paired with an indicative verb and would suggest that blessedness is an intrinsic part of God’s character. The meaning “praised” would be more naturally paired with an optative verb and would suggest that God ought to be praised. Pauline style in the epistles generally moves from statements to obligations, expressing the reality first and then the believer’s necessary response. When considered as a whole, although a decision is difficult, the general Pauline style of beginning with statements and moving to obligations argues for the indicative. Cf. also Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 1:3.

[1:4]  ² tn Or “our trials”; traditionally, “our affliction.” The term θλῖψις (qliyi") refers to trouble (including persecution) that involves direct suffering (L&N 22.2).

[1:4]  ³ tn Or “any trials”; traditionally, “any affliction.”

[1:5]  ⁴ tn This Greek word translated “sufferings” here (πάθημα, paqhma) is a different one than the one Paul uses for his own afflictions/persecutions (θλῖψις, qliyi") in v. 4.

[1:5]  ⁵ tn I.e., suffering incurred by Paul as a consequence of his relationship to Christ. The genitive could be considered to have a causative nuance here.

[1:5]  ⁶ tn Traditionally, “abound” (here and throughout this section).

[1:5]  ⁷ tn The words “to you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied by the statements in the following verse.

[1:6]  ⁸ tn Or “are troubled.”

[1:7]  ⁹ tn Grk “as you are sharers in.”

[1:7]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “will be sharers in.”

[1:8]  ¹¹ tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1., where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).

[1:8]  ¹² tn Grk “Asia”; in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia, made up of about one-third of the west and southwest end of modern Asia Minor. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia.