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2 Corinthians Chapter 1

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) 24 Verses

What is 2 Corinthians 1 about?

Paul's defense of his apostleship and the theology of the ministry of reconciliation through weakness and suffering. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia:
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;
4who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ.
6But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:
7and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort.
8For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell [us] in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
9yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead:
10who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;
11ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf.
12For our glorifying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
13For we write no other things unto you, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge unto the end:
14as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
15And in this confidence I was minded to come first unto you, that ye might have a second benefit;
16and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto Judaea.
17When I therefore was thus minded, did I show fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay?
18But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay.
19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, [even] by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea.
20For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us.
21Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;
22who also sealed us, and gave [us] the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
23But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.
24Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in faith ye stand fast.
2 Corinthians 2 →

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, etc..] The inscription of this epistle is pretty much the same with that of the former; only whereas here he styles himself an apostle of Jesus Christ, there he says he was “called” to be one: for he did not assume that character and office without the call of Christ, and will of God; and which he chooses to mention, in opposition to the false apostles, who had neither. Likewise, in the inscription of the former epistle Sosthenes is joined with him; in this Timothy, whom he calls our brother, not so much on account of his being a partaker of the same grace, as…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“THE HEADING; PAUL'S CONSOLATIONS IN RECENT TRIALS IN ASIA; HIS SINCERITY TOWARDS THE CORINTHIANS; EXPLANATION OF HIS NOT HAVING VISITED THEM AS HE HAD PURPOSED. (2Co. 1:1-24) Timothy our brother--When writing to Timothy himself, he calls him "my son" (Ti1 1:18). Writing of him, "brother," and "my beloved son" (Co1 4:17). He had been sent before to Macedonia, and had met Paul at Philippi, when the apostle passed over from Troas to Macedonia (compare Co2 2:12-13; see on Co1 16:10-11). in all Achaia--comprising Hellas and the Peloponnese. The Gentiles themselves, and AnnÃ&brvbrus Gallio, the proconsul (Act…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Paul an apostle ... - ; see the Romans 1:1 note, and 1 Corinthians 1:1 note. By the will of God - Through, or agreeably to the will of God; note, 1 Corinthians 1:1. And Timothy our brother - Paul was accustomed to associate some other person or persons with him in writing his epistles. Thus, in the First Epistle to the Corinthians, Sosthenes was associated with him. For the reasons of this, see the note on 1 Corinthians 1:1. The name of Timothy is associated with his in the Epistles to the Philippians and Colossians. From the former Epistle to the Corinthians 1 Corinthians 16:10, we learn that Paul had sent…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Timotheus our brother - St. Paul writing to Timotheus styled him his son; writing of him, his brother. 2 Corinthians 1:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“1:1-2 Letters in the first century usually began by mentioning the writer’s name and that of the person(s) addressed, followed by a greeting (see Acts 15:23; 23:25-26). Paul follows this pattern. • Paul highlights his calling as an apostle; his status as God’s appointed agent for establishing the church had been challenged at Corinth.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“Paul: Rom 1:1-5; Co1 1:1; Ti1 1:1; Ti2 1:1 Timothy: Act 16:1; Rom 16:21; Co1 16:10; Phi 1:1, Phi 2:19-22; Col 1:1, Col 1:2; Th1 1:1; Th2 1:1; Heb 13:23 the church: Act 18:1-11; Co1 1:2 all: Co1 6:11; Eph 1:1 Achaia: Co2 9:2, Co2 11:10; Act 18:12; Rom 15:26, Rom 16:5; Co1 16:15; Th1 1:7, Th1 1:8 2 Corinthians 1:2”
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