Understanding Suffering and Consolation

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Reflections on 2nd Corinthians

2nd Corinthians 1.4-8

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August 19th 2018
So, two weeks ago we covered verse 1-5 where Paul makes his introduction in this second letter to the believers at Corinth.

We recall that this letter is different than the first epistle in that it is scattered and less systematic than 1st Corinthians plus it is also less direct on issue and maybe perhaps more revelatory on the mind of Paul.

So let's re-read our first verses again and then step into our text for today which begins at verse 4.

Scripture Readings

2nd Corinthians 1:1 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:
2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Now, pay careful attention to the number of references to terms that describe trouble, trials, suffering in the next 7 verses in ADDITION to words that relate to comfort and consolation, as Paul says:

4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulationA real historical event fulfilled in 70 A.D.—not a future apocalyptic crisis. More, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
9 But we had the sentence of deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

The Tally is that between verse 4 and 10 there are 13 words to describe being saved, comforted or consoled and there are, that's right, 13 references to suffering, death, despair and the like. Suffice it to say, this was the theme.

Themes of Suffering and Comfort

At verse 11 Paul continues and says

11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
13 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

So, back to the theme of verse 4-10 of suffering in this world followed by consolation and comfort from God . . . and from each other.

The central theme of suffering in this world is introduced WAY back in the Book of Genesis to the Federal Head of the Human Race – Adam and his bride, Eve.

Suffering in Genesis

After their disobedience, we read:

Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Remember, Eve – through the lust of her flesh, the lust of her eyes, and the pride of life – took the fruit, having been beguiled.

The sentence passed upon her is two-fold a state of sorrow (which was greatly multiplied and meted out in her bringing forth children) and a state of subjection (which amounted to her desire being naturally for her husband with him ruling over her).

Perhaps, in light of the fruit enticing her toward pleasure, her punishment was sorrow, and in light of the fact that she sought for it to make her wise, the punishment was having to be in subjection to her.

Consequences of Sin in a Fallen World

Husband, which can become a real source of frustration to pride. Interestingly, the sorrow God greatly multiplied was specified – in bringing forth children – but I can’t help but it relates to all experiences with motherhood and life as a female in the fallen world. We must remember that it was their “sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace.” brought “sorrow” into the world; it was sin this that made the world a vale of tears, sin that brought trouble upon us, and sin that introduced disease and death, some of the most heinous forms of sorrow and suffering.

This type remains – SIN produces SORROW. It is universal and does not leave simply because we have been forgiven. They are coupled together. Of course the payment for sin has been made and so it does not alienate God and Man, but it does come with repercussions and carries the potential for becoming hardened. In any case, miss the mark of God, experience sorrow as a result. It was the result of the Fall for Eve and it is the result for everyone of ever since.

Impact on Eve and All Women

It is interesting to me that the ease with which Eve partook of the fruit (that was forbidden) amounted to an increased difficulty she would have in bringing forth the fruit of her womb as God said, I will GREATLY multiply thy sorrows in pregnancy. That is the Hebrew meaning of the word translated, conception – pregnancy. I think it is also fitting to realize that it is God who claims to do the multiplying of sorrows. We can get angry at Him and call Him mean or hateful but the sorrows created are from Him and since He is a Good God we must admit that the sorrows are for the benefit of the human race in a fallen world.

So that is the first sorrow applied to the Fall to Eve. The second sorrow is that she is put into a state of subjection by God and that subjection is to her husband. We note that she is placed in submission to her husband, not to men in general. The verse actually says:

“and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.“

Curse of Submission

The Hebrew is and thy longing will be to thy husband and he will rule or govern you. Note – this longing and submission is a curse for the woman. And it truly is a curse. Prior to the fall Eve and Adam were partners without much distinction in terms of power or authority – she was from his side created to be an aide or helpmate to him, but not subservient.

Now God not only places Him over her, but he creates in her a desire for her man, her husband. Because the man and woman become husband and wife through sexual relations I tend to think that this speaks to the emotional bond a woman has for the man to whom she gives herself and this desire (longing) for Him runs deep – so deep that many women despise the inner-allegiance they have toward their first real love.

Again, it seems that Eve’s desire to eat fruit that would make one wise had a direct influence on this part of the curse upon her as she may have obtained wisdom but it would forever be subdued by an allegiance to a man to who she desires. Not too fun, in my estimation. And it was in light of this that Paul the Apostle, writing to the church in His day, could say in 1st Timothy 2:11-12

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Why is this not applicable to us in our day? Remember, in the New Aeon, the Second Adam brings things back to the Edenic state, and so in Christ (which is key to everything) but in Christ all things revert back to the original state. But notice the set up of the curse here upon Eve. She will have sorrow but it will be in bringing forth children, who are often a great blessing to women.

And while she is subject to her husband, it is not to every man, and it is not to some alien object over which she has no relation. God is merciful and wise and does know what He is doing for the benefit of humankind in bringing all of us to Him.

Then to Adam God said

The Curse of The Fall

(in Genesis 3:17)

"Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it:

SO right here we have God saying a lot to Adam. “Because you listened to the Voice of thy wife.” In this we know Eve did some convincing, at some level, when it came to Adam eating the fruit. Perhaps it was just her saying that she ate the fruit, perhaps it was more — like a real hard sell. We aren’t told. But we are told that God says to Adam, “BECAUSE you hearkened to the voice of your wife.”

The Hebrew word hearkened is shama and can also mean, listened to or even heeded, as well as heard, there is a bunch of potentiality going on here as to what actually happened. Part of the curse of the Fall was Eve, who was taken from Adam, becoming subject to her husband. In order for this to be a curse for Eve it seems to me that women have an intelligence and insight that can be superior to a mans’ — and therefore the curse would be a source of great frustration for her as she knows her insights are at times better than his but she is subject to his views and her allegiance is to the dummy. That is a real curse.

At the same time, man is given headship over his wife — irrespective of his intelligence and abilities — and when he relinquishes this headship over problems in the biblical narrative arise. We note that Adam listened (hearkened) to Eve — and there was a fall. That Abraham listened to Sarah, and an entire nation came forth, and that women have an tremendous ability to persuade men. For this, Adam was cursed.

"Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it:"

The Consequences of Disobedience

Again, God told Adam (not Eve) not to eat of it — and Adam chose Eve’s words over Gods – because of this, God says,

"cursed is the ground for thy sake;" (which I think is better translated, curse is the ground on account of you) “in sorrow” (“its saw bone” — worrisomeness) "shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

We tend to think that the sorrow means work here because of what is said next but the Hebrew word best means fret and worry shalt thou eat of the ground all the days of your life. This is the case of humankind and breadwinners, is it not? Worry? Wonder? Fretting? The farmer worries about the crop and rain and infestation, and the investor worries about good returns, and the laborer worries about job security, about paying the bills, affording college and about the general well being of family — their health and safety.

The fallen world is a land of sorrows, a place or worries and woe — which in the end is all about suffering. I believe the conditions of this fallen material world continue out through today but are mitigated by two things — one far less effective than the other.

Mitigating The Effects

The first is science and advancements are helping in some sense to mitigate the effects of the fall. But for every advance a new worry seems to take hold. We see this played out in the fate of women’s suffering in childbirth as science has greatly reduced her suffering. I suggest that this is a result of Christ having overcome sin and death and introduced in full the New Aeon through His coming.

The second, far more effective solution to the worries that come with the Fall of Man is Christ Himself because in a through a direct, unencumbered relationship with Him the worries and woes become manageable — sometimes to the point that they have little effect at all upon a person. So, the first element of suffering was that man, "in sorrow would eat of the ground all the days of his life."

An addition to the elements of this curse are added by God when He says:

"thorns also and thistles shall it (the ground) bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground;

The Consequences of Adam's Choice

Adam's choice to eat from the forbidden fruit resulted in a curse that significantly altered the human condition. Gratifying their desires led Adam and Eve into a world fraught with labor and discomfort, a stark contrast from the paradise of Eden where they had everything needed. Their newfound reality included worry and labors, conditions absent from their original abode, along with women suffering in pregnancy and longing for companionship. The essence of this transition can be summarized in the words discomfort, suffering, pain, worry, woe, and difficulty.

Spiritual Consolation in Christ

Despite advancements in science and technology to alleviate some of these burdens, suffering is still prevalent. However, spiritual libertyFreedom to know and follow God without religious control—through personal faith, not obligation. in Christ provides significant consolation. In his writings, Paul addresses the Church at Corinth, highlighting the value of suffering:

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

In essence, as we endure similar sufferings as Christ did for our faith, our consolation through Him also increases. The Apostles Peter and John, once wrongly imprisoned, rejoiced in their ability to suffer shame for His name. Romans 8:17 offers further insight:

Joint Heirs with Christ

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Philippians 3:10 explains Paul's desire to intimately know Christ and fellowship in His sufferings. This optimistic outlook emphasizes the glory awaiting those who partake in these sufferings. 2 Timothy 2:11-12 further supports this notion:

11 “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.”

Though Revelation speaks to the Church Bride as reigning with Him, the principle of being joint-heirs with Christ applies to all believers. Through baptism, believers are united with Christ's death and resurrection, signifying a spiritual rebirth and a return to Edenic peace.

The newness of life in Christ brings healing, peace, and a reduction of worry, allowing believers to navigate the fallen material world with strengthened resolve. Paul notes that consolation is abundantly imparted through Christ, serving as a thread that ties this faith journey together.

Jesus and Comfort in Suffering

Lord Jesus is seen as the source of consolation, and it is felt that the comfort which Jesus imparts, or which was imparted through him, was more than sufficient to overbalance all the trials which he endured in his cause. That is saying a lot when we consider the LOT that Paul had upon himself.

The point—which I think needs to be made clear here relative to Christian suffering—is that God does NOT seem to remove all of it. In fact He allowed Paul and the rest of the Apostles and prophets (for the most part) to suffer. In fact, His own Son experienced consummate suffering. These factors need to be included in our discussion—suffering will exist and so will comfort and consolation in the suffering. Buy the consolation may not be what we desire, nevertheless, in the end, it will be what we need.

Understanding Affliction and Comfort

This is why Paul adds (at verse 6)

6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

Another way to say this verse is to say:

“If we (the apostles) are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.”

There is a pass-down reciprocity going on here. Paul is saying that when they suffer affliction it is for their comfort and salvation. Now, we have the pernicious ritual today of saying that we have been saved as in it being a singular event that guarantees our place with God. I have to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth relative to scripture. Certainly, there is a moment we are all born-from-above, and this is a revolutionary event which takes us into the presence of God—perhaps into His Kingdom—but this does NOT mean we are His Sons and Daughters automatically, as some Jesus Freak denoms try to maintain.

Its not that we remain in Him by works of righteousness, but it does mean that all who HAVE been born-from-above will abide in Him by faith and produce fruits of love to some extent or another. Paul’s words support this view right here when he clearly suggests that the Apostles suffering and afflictions are for the believers at Corinth “comfort and salvation.”

To the Church at Galatia, Paul wrote, after being greatly concerned with their walk AFTER having received Christ by faith:

Galatians 4:19-20 “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.”

This forming of Christ in those who have received Him by faith is processional, and until the Day Star rises in the human heart, every believer’s is subject to becoming as a seed cast on stony, thorny soil. To ignore this is to ignore perhaps one of the most pressing messages of the Apostles.

Trials and Spiritual Growth

I know I am speaking to the choir here but the first line of defense in establishing deep roots is delving into the Word of God by the Spirit. In so doing we confront the contents of our natural minds, our natural wills, and our natural emotions to the things of God. And here we are confronted DAILY—will we pursue our will or will we pursue God’s.

NOW LISTEN—when a believer today, in this age, chooses to allow God’s will to reign they enter into discomfort and suffering. In the former “oikonomeas” of the Old and the New Testament, there was an element of physical suffering present as that material age was fading with a fight. But ever since God has moved into us, and ever since His Kingdom is established spiritually in heaven and on earth (in the hearts of Man) the suffering seems to be centralized on the inner man and woman—as the conditions of physical life seem to be based more on general conditions of human life than Christian punishment. I cannot stress enough how much I trust in the reality that suffering our flesh is an absolute condition to becoming a joint-heir with Christ in the Kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future.; that we are known for our love and to actually live Love and be love the toll is quite high on the fleshly self—lots of discomfort and continued SALVATION.

The Purpose of Suffering and Consolation

There is a line that is a bit strange in the King James as we read:

“And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer . . .”

The Greek word en ergah-o means something efficacious, something that produces, and so here the term means something that would effect their salvation – meaning, sufferings. Those sufferings were necessary; and a patient endurance of them would tend to promote their salvation. So again, the doctrine that the patient endurance of affliction tends to promote salvation which is taught throughout the Bible.

Then Paul adds a line in the opposite direction, saying,

“and if we (the Apostles) are comforted, it is for your comfort.”

Jesus suffered for the world. The apostles suffered for the New Testament Saints. The Saints were to suffer for others. And so are we. Likewise, Christ – having overcome sin, death and the grave, brings to us as Prince of Peace consolation – which tempers the suffering we allow ourselves to experience. The apostles had the consolation and passed it to the church, who passed it to others as His own.

So whether suffering or consolation, we see that it not only benefits us but is for the benefit of others. Then Paul concludes, saying and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, “which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.”

Encouragement in Suffering

Verse 7 Paul adds a line of encouragement, saying:

7 And our (the apostles) hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

We have a firm and unshaken hope in regard to you. Do you know what he is saying in other words? “We have a confident expectation that you will be saved.” That . . . AS PARTAKERS of SUFFERING, you will also be of the CONSOLATION. This was the message given them – endure the suffering to the end and you will be saved. Saved from the coming destruction, saved from hell, saved from the wiles of Satan, and saved to paradise or the New JerusalemThe spiritual reality of God's fulfilled presence with humanity—replacing Sheol after 70 A.D..

In the Book of RevelationA symbolic prophecy fulfilled in 70 A.D.—not a prediction of future global events. THIS is the Message Jesus gives to all seven churches: Bear the trials, withstand the temptations to join up with idolaters and Romans and Judaisers and Pagans, and you will receive the CONSOLATION. I cannot believe this is any different for believers today – except in terms of focus and execution.

Here Paul says, “we believe that you will be enabled to bear trials which will confirm your prospect of heaven. To wipe this view of mine away, though I cannot prove application through scripture except by saying that the Word of God stands forever, is to suggest that because God has taken care of everything to reconcile the world to Himself our part in securing our place as heirs is over. In my estimation, such a teaching is irresponsible.

Experiencing Deep Trials

Our last verse of the day, eight, says:

2nd Corinthians 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

Have you ever been here as a Christian? I’m here almost weekly. A place of overriding depression where I even despair life itself is part and parcel of the mature Christian experience. Of course, we know biblically that David, Job, Elijah, Moses, and Jeremiah faced enormous depression in their walk, and jumping out to the New Testament our Lord and Savior Himself was, as Isaiah said:

“A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief."

And of course, when He was in the garden Jesus prayed, he said to his friends:

“My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.' And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, 'Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will."

The very model for everyone of us. But as Paul makes clear, with suffering comes consolation, as the scripture affirms in the Psalms:

“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

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