The Big Read – Daily Read
Introduction
False teachers have sought to destroy the apostle Paul’s reputation in the church at Corinth, so he writes to defend himself and his apostleship against their “insinuations and accusations”. Paul also has two other concerns. The first is that the incestuous person who was under discipline but has now repented is “restored and received into fellowship as quickly as possible,” and the Corinthians participate in making a contribution for the poor believers in Jerusalem.
2 Corinthians 1:1-11
v1-2: Grace and peace are two great and comprehensive blessings that we need because without grace their can be no lasting peace. Both grace and peace come from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, “who gives those benefits to fallen humanity and who is prayed to as God.”
v3-6: The comfort God gives us in our sufferings, He intends for us to use to comfort others. “Whatever favours God gives us are intended not only to make us cheerful ourselves but also to enable us to be useful to others” by telling them about our experience of God’s goodness and mercy.
v7-11: God can be trusted at all times. Often He will bring His people “into great difficulties so that they may become aware of their own insufficiency to help themselves and may be led to put their trust and hope in his all-sufficiency.”
Quotes from Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
(Photo: Brad Neathery)