Articles
Comfort one another - 2 Corinthians 2:6-11
Comfort one another 2 Corinthians 2:6-11
The Corinthian church had many problems in conforming their lives with the teachings of Christ. They were called, as we all are, to be a holy people unto God but life and its ever-alluring call to immorality had crept in among them. One of them had been caught up in immorality. They had followed Paul’s instruction and warned, instructed, and even withdrawn their fellowship from one such erring brother. Although it is often said that such a course of action by a congregation does not work, here we see that it DOES. Now what? Now what do the faithful brethren do with this brother?
For the thought on comfort, we see that such in this case involved first causing sorrow, a godly sorrow that leads to repentance (cp. Chapter 7!). THEN, the brethren are to forgive and comfort. Such comfort is seen not just in consoling a person, but all that is involved in our relationship as brethren.
A short outline of the use of this Greek word translated ‘comfort’ includes: To exhort, (1 Cor. 1:10; 4:16; 14:30–31; 16:15–16; 2 Cor. 2:7-8; 5:20; 6:1; 8:4, 6; 10:1); to implore, entreat, request (1 Cor. 16:12; 2 Cor. 9:5; 12:18), to show compassion, console (1 Cor. 4:13), and to comfort, cheer up (2 Cor. 1:4, 6; 2:7; 7:6, 7, 13; 13:11). *
THIS is the relationship that should exist between brethren! Comforting each other can at times be difficult and trying for us. We do not think of ‘comfort’ as causing sorrow, but sometimes it must. Read and study the above passages. Are you being used of God to comfort your brethren?
Hugh DeLong 9/8/2024
Note – thanks to Bob Utley’s work on enumerating the uses of the word “paraklesis” in his commentary on 2 Corinthians.
