2 Corinthians 1:3-11

B. Thanksgiving for comfort in affliction 1:3-11

In this pericope Paul gave thanks to God for the comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-7) and deliverance (2 Corinthians 1:8-11) that he had experienced recently. He wanted to enable his readers to appreciate what he as an apostle had endured for Christ and the super-abounding comfort God supplies to compensate for all afflictions suffered for His sake.

"It [this section] is no mere amiable preamble intended only to cushion the sterner matters which the Apostle is shortly to broach. On the contrary, it is very much of a piece with the major theme of the opening portion of this epistle, namely, Paul’s vindication of his own integrity." [Note: Hughes, p. 9.]

Paul’s main concern in this section was that his readers learn the values of his experiences, not just the facts concerning what had happened to him. Consequently he dealt with these first. He shared the effects of his experiences (2 Corinthians 1:3-7), and then told them of one experience (2 Corinthians 1:8-11).

Paul’s almost invariable practice of following salutation with thanksgiving in his epistles was a common feature of secular letters in his day. [Note: Plummer, p. 5.] Compared with his other epistles, however, there is some difference in this thanksgiving.

"St. Paul usually thanks God for some grace bestowed on those whom he addresses, and hence his omission of the Thanksgiving in the stern letter to the Galatians; here and in 1 Timothy 1:12 he gives thanks for benefits bestowed on himself. But his readers are not forgotten (2 Corinthians 1:6-7); it is largely on their account that he is so thankful." [Note: Ibid.]