A Crystal Clear Image of God
Paul uses the Greek word for “comfort” ten times in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7—do you think this may be the theme of these verses?
He begins developing his theme by presenting a crystal clear image of God.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles” (1:3-4a).
All comfort is ultimately sourced in God. The flip side of that is to say that worldly comfort—comfort not sourced in God—is ultimately empty, vain, hollow comfort.
Seeing God as Your Compassionate Father
The Greek word for “compassion” means to feel another person’s agony. People in Paul’s day used the word to signify sympathetic lament.
God laments our pain; God aches when we ache; He weeps when we weep. He is the Father of compassion.
Is this our image of God when life is bad?
In your suffering, do you see God as your Father who sympathetically laments with you?
Seeing God as Your Comforting Father
The word for “comfort” pictures God fortifying us—he gives us his strength to endure.
Paul and others used the word “comfort” to picture:
- A lawyer advocating for a client
- A mother wrapping her arms of protection around her child
- A solider standing back to back with a comrade in danger
God is the God of all comfort.
In the midst of our suffering, is that our image of God?
In your suffering, do you see God as your Advocate, as your Protector, as your Ally?
Join the Conversation
What is your image of God in your suffering?
During times of suffering, how could you find sustaining strength by seeing God as your compassionate and comforting Father?
