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NASB | 2 Corinthians 1:5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Corinthians 1:5 For just as Christ's sufferings are ours in abundance [as they overflow to His followers], so also our comfort [our reassurance, our encouragement, our consolation] is abundant through Christ [it is truly more than enough to endure what we must]. |
Subject: 2 Corinthians- What is 'suffering' |
Bible Note: Hi. You wrote: "God inflicted me with sickness to teach me endurance...Thess scriptures tell us that because of our association with Christ Jesus, the world will hate us and persecute us and even try to kill us...And the more diligent and faithful the greater the persecutions." In many cases, yes. However, how is Paul being shipwrecked an example of persecution by Christ-haters? A more complete list is below. How many of these things come from human beings, and how many do not? "I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure." --2 Corinthians 11:26-27 Speaking of the "thorn in the flesh," you wrote: "Nothing here even remotely eludes to sickness or desease, much less sickness and desease GOD sent to humble!" There has been much debate on the exact nature of the thorn, of course, but there are a few things that we can be certain of: 1. While it was from Satan, it is also true to say it was given by God, since the purpose was to keep Paul from exalting Himself. Satan's purpose is never to humble us before God our Father. 2. Paul prayed for it to be removed, and God refused to do so, for a very specific purpose. So whether we are talking about sickness or not, God ordains that uncomfortable, unhappy, and dangerous things happen to His children for His glory. Why someone would simply cut sickness out of that list of uncomfortable, unhappy, and dangerous things doesn't make a lot of sense. One more note on sickness: Paul praises Epaphroditus as an example of godly faith in Philippians 2 for sacrificing himself for the cause of Christ in spite of his life-threatening illness. Not once is anything mentioned about a lack of faith or a failure to realize that sickness is not for God's people. This would have been the ideal time to mention that Epaphroditus "didn't have to be sick," but we see nothing of the sort. --Joe! |