Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Corinthians 1:7
And our hope of you [is] steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so [shall ye be] also of the consolation.
7. And our hope of you is stedfast ] Most editors agree in placing these words before ‘or whether we be comforted,’ &c. It would seem to be their most natural place, for not only do they come awkwardly before the word ‘knowing,’ but the expression of the hope is more appropriate in reference to the endurance by the Corinthians of suffering than to their enjoyment of encouragement. The majority of the best MSS. are in favour of this arrangement of the sentence. The text is in great confusion here.
as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation ] Literally, sharers. See 1Co 1:9, and note. Christians ‘had all things,’ even sufferings, in ‘common.’ Cf. 1Co 15:46; 1Co 15:49. Also Rom 8:17-23, ch. 2Co 4:17. The words ‘shall ye be’ are not in the original. It would be better to supply ‘are,’ the encouragement being not a promise for the future, but a present possession. Observe the way in which ye and you are used indiscriminately as the nominative in the edition of 1611. Cf. also 2Co 1:13-14. In the later editions ye has been substituted. The substitution commenced in 1661, and gradually made its way after that time. The rule that ye is used only “in questions, entreaties, and rhetorical appeals” (see Abbott’s Shaksperian Grammar, 236) does not seem to hold good here.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And our hope of you is steadfast – We have a firm and unshaken hope in regard to you; we have a confident expectation that you will be saved. We believe that you will be enabled so to bear trial as to show that you are sustained by the Christian hope; and so as to advance your own piety, and confirm your prospect of heaven.
As ye are partakers of the sufferings – It is evident from this, that the Corinthians had been subjected to trials similar to those which the apostle had endured. It is not known to what afflictions they were then subjected; but it is not improbable that they were exposed to some kind of persecution and opposition. Such trials were common in all the early churches; and they served to unite all the friends of the Redeemer in common bonds, and to make them feel that they were one. They had united sorrows; and they had united joys; and they felt they were tending to the same heaven of glory. United sorrows and united consolations tend more than anything else to bind people together. We always have a brotherly feeling for one who suffers as we do; or who has the same kind of joy which we have.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. And our hope of you is steadfast] We have no doubt of your continuing in the truth; because we see that you have such a full, experimental knowledge of it, that no sufferings or persecutions can turn you aside. And we are sure that, as ye suffer, so shall ye rejoice.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
We have a stedfast hope of you, that as you have endured sufferings for Christ and his gospel, so you will still endure them, as we have done. And we know,
that as you are partakers of the sufferings of Christ and his gospel, so you shall also share in those Divine consolations that those feel who endure such sufferings.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. so shall ye berather, “So are ye.” He means, there isa community of consolation, as of suffering, between me and you.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For our hope of you is steadfast,…. We have long ago entertained hopes of you, that the work of God is begun upon your souls, and will be carried on, and that you will hold on in the profession of your faith unto the end, and not be moved by the afflictions you see in us, or endure in yourselves; and so will pass on cheerfully in your Christian race, in the midst of all your troubles, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God, you may expect to be possessed of; and this hope, for or concerning you, continues with us firm and immovable.
Knowing, which may refer either to the Corinthians; so the Arabic version, “be ye knowing”, or “know ye”; you may, or should know; this you may assure yourselves of: or to the apostle and other ministers; so the Syriac version, , “we know”, we are persuaded of the truth of this,
that as you are partakers of the sufferings; that is, of Christ, and the same which we also suffer for him:
so shall ye be; or rather, “so you are also of the consolation”; for the apostle seems to respect not future happiness and glory, in which, as there will be no afflictions and troubles, so no comfort under them, but present consolation, which the saints enjoy here as a pledge and earnest of that fulness of joy which they shall have with Christ for evermore.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
| Paul’s Sincerity and Affliction. | A. D. 57. |
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
In these verses the apostle speaks for the encouragement and edification of the Corinthians; and tells them (v. 7) of his persuasion or stedfast hope that they should receive benefit by the troubles he and his companions in labour and travel had met with, that their faith should not be weakened, but their consolations increased. In order to this he tells them, 1. What their sufferings had been (v. 8): We would not have you ignorant of our trouble. It was convenient for the churches to know what were the sufferings of their ministers. It is not certain what particular troubles in Asia are here referred to; whether the tumult raised by Demetrius at Ephesus, mentioned Acts xix., or the fight with beasts at Ephesus, mentioned in the former epistle (ch. xv.), or some other trouble; for the apostle was in deaths often. This however is evident, that they were great tribulations. They were pushed out of measure, to a very extraordinary degree, above the common strength of men, or of ordinary Christians, to bear up under them, insomuch that they despaired even of life (v. 8), and thought they should have been killed, or have fainted away and expired. 2. What they did in their distress: They trusted in God. And they were brought to this extremity in order that they should not trust in themselves but in God, v. 9. Note, God often brings his people into great straits, that they may apprehend their own insufficiency to help themselves, and may be induced to place their trust and hope in his all-sufficiency. Our extremity is God’s opportunity. In the mount will the Lord be seen; and we may safely trust in God, who raiseth the dead, v. 9. God’s raising the dead is a proof of his almighty power. He that can do this can do any thing, can do all things, and is worthy to be trusted in at all times. Abraham’s faith fastened upon this instance of the divine power: He believed God who quickeneth the dead, Rom. iv. 17. If we should be brought so low as to despair even of life, yet we may then trust in God, who can bring back not only from the gates, but from the jaws, of death. 3. What the deliverance was that they had obtained; and this was seasonable and continued. Their hope and trust were not in vain, nor shall any who trust in him be ashamed. God had delivered them, and did still deliver them, v. 10. Having obtained help of God, they continued to that day, Acts xxvi. 22. 4. What use they made of this deliverance: We trust that he will yet deliver us (v. 10), that God will deliver to the end, and preserve to his heavenly kingdom. Note, Past experiences are great encouragements to faith and hope, and they lay great obligations to trust in God for time to come. We reproach our experiences if we distrust God in future straits, who hath delivered as in former troubles. David, even when a young man, and when he had but a small stock of experiences, argued after the manner of the apostle here, 1 Sam. xvii. 37. 5. What was desired of the Corinthians upon this account: That they would help together by prayer for them (v. 11), by social prayer, agreeing and joining together in prayer on their behalf. Note, our trusting in God must not supersede the use of any proper and appointed means; and prayer is one of those means. We should pray for ourselves and for one another. The apostle had himself a great interest in the throne of grace, yet he desires the help of others’ prayers. If we thus help one another by our prayers, we may hope for an occasion of giving thanks by many for answer of prayer. And it is our duty not only to help one another with prayer, but in praise and thanksgiving, and thereby to make suitable returns for benefits received.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Our hope for you ( ). The old word , from , to hope, has the idea of waiting with expectation and patience. So here it is “steadfast” (, stable, fast, from , to plant the feet down).
Partakers (). Partners as in Lu 5:10.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And our hope of you is stedfast,” (kai he elpis hemon bebaia huper humon) “and our hope is firm on behalf of you;” continuing, expectant, in Christ, Heb 6:17-19.
2) “Knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings,” (eidotes hoti hos koinonoi este ton pathematon) “Perceiving that you all are partakers of the sufferings;” sharing in sufferings endured for the testimony of Jesus Christ and His church truth, which brings certain rewards, Rom 8:17.
3) “So shall ye be also of the consolation,” (hautos kai tes parakleseos) “Thus or so also of the comfort,” you shall share or have a common help from the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, while being steadfast to the hour of rewarding, 1Co 3:8; 1Co 15:58.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
7. Knowing, that as However there might be some of the Corinthians that were drawn away for the time by the calumnies of the false Apostles, so as to entertain less honorable views of Paul, on seeing him shamefully handled before the world, he, nevertheless, associates them with himself both in fellowship of afflictions, and in hope of consolation. (237) Thus he corrects their perverse and malignant view, without subjecting them to an open rebuke.
(237) The Corinthians were κοινωνοί partakers of, or in communion with him in his afflictions. What is more humble and lowly ( τί ταπεινοφρωνέστερον) than Paul in this expression? saith Chrysostom — they who had not in the least measure shared with him in sufferings, yet he maketh them copartners with him. They are, as Salmeron expresseth it, Copartners in the gain and in the loss with Paul. They venture (as it were) in the ship together.” — Burgesse. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) And our hope of you is stedfast.Better, our hope on behalf of you. The sentence is brought in as a kind of parenthesis connected with the word enduring. He had not used that word lightly, still less as a tacit reproach, as though they were wanting in endurance. His hope for them, for their salvation in the fullest sense of the word, had never been stronger than it was at that moment.
So shall ye be also of the consolation.Better, so are ye also. The verb is not expressed in the Greek, but it is more natural to supply it in the tense which had been used before. The English version practically dilutes the hope by throwing it into a future, which may be near or distant, instead of connecting it with the actual present. The Apostle could not doubt for a moment that they were at that very time sharers in the comfort as well as in the sufferings.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. The Corinthian patience in the sufferings for Christ’s sake, and their maintenance of a firm confession of Christ in Corinth amid unpopularity and persecution, inspired a hope that was steadfast that they would be final partakers of an eternal consolation.
St. Paul now opens the great topics of the epistle. The report brought by Titus in regard to the Corinthian temper on receiving his first epistle, incites him to a full dissertation upon
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
Ver. 7. So shall ye be also, &c. ] Our troubles therefore are compared to the throes of a travailing woman, that tend to a birth, and end in comfort,Joh 16:21Joh 16:21 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
7. ] refers back to : we are comforted with the assurance that, &c . After understand not , but : he is speaking generally, of the community of consolation subsisting mutually between himself and the Corinthians; and it was this thought which helped to console him.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
2Co 1:7 . . . .: and our hope for you is steadfast, knowing (we should expect , but cf. Rom 13:11 ) that as ye are partakers of the sufferings (see reff. for with a gen. objecti ), so also are ye of the comfort . The main idea of this section is well given by Bengel: “Communio sanctorum egregie representatur in hac epistola”.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
of = on
behalf of. Greek haper, as in 2Co 1:6.
stedfast. Greek. bebaios. See Heb 2:2. In some MSS. this clause stands at the beginning of 2Co 1:6, in others in the middle, alter “suffer”.
knowing. Greek. oida. App-182.
partakers. Greek. koinonos. Seer Col 10:18.
also, etc. of the consolation also.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
7.] refers back to :-we are comforted with the assurance that, &c. After understand not , but : he is speaking generally, of the community of consolation subsisting mutually between himself and the Corinthians; and it was this thought which helped to console him.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
2Co 1:7
2Co 1:7
and our hope for you is stedfast;-He knew if they partook of the afflictions they would share in the consolations.
knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort.-[Those who share in our sorrows share in our joys. There are two ideas apparently united here. The one is that the sufferings of the apostle were also the sufferings of the Corinthians because of the union between them. The other is, that his readers were in their measure exposed to the same kind of sufferings. In this two-fold sense they were joint partakers of the same joys and sorrows.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
our: 2Co 1:14, 2Co 7:9, 2Co 12:20, Phi 1:6, Phi 1:7, 1Th 1:3, 1Th 1:4
as ye: Mat 5:11, Mat 5:12, Luk 22:28-30, Rom 8:17, Rom 8:18, 1Co 10:13, 2Th 1:4-7, 2Ti 2:12, Jam 1:2-4, Jam 1:12
Reciprocal: Mat 20:23 – Ye Luk 22:29 – General Heb 3:1 – partakers 1Pe 4:13 – ye are
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Co 1:7. Paul’s hopefulness in regard to the Corinthian brethren was based on their general attitude toward the Gospel. We shall later learn that they reacted favorably to the first epistle, hence it was reasonable to hope for their continued devotion to the Lord, even though great tribulations might come upon them.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Here St. Paul tells the body of the Corinthians, that he had a good hope concerning them, that as they had endured sufferings for Christ, so they would still endure them; assuring them, that they should share no less in consolation than they did in affliction.
Learn hence, That such as suffer for Christ, or own those that suffer for him, shall be interested in all that joy and consolation which such sufferings and sufferers shall receive from God: As you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be of the consolation also.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort. [And we have a firm hope with regard to you, that if Christ has comforted us in our affliction, so will he comfort you, if you partake of our sufferings. The phrases “same sufferings which we also suffer” and “partakers of the sufferings,” suggest that Paul may have meant an identity rather than a similarity of suffering. The loyal part of the Corinthian church which he is now addressing, no doubt had in a large measure an identity of suffering, for, by taking part with the apostle, they exposed themselves to the same detraction, contempt, etc., which the pestilential minority were visiting upon him. As the comfort of Christ enabled him to be stedfast, he had an unwavering hope that this same comfort would enable his friends also to be loyal and stedfast. His own stedfastness had been recently tested to the uttermost, but the comforting help of Christ had caused the test to increase his stedfastness. Of this test, and its resulting influence of faith and confidence, he now tells them.]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
The attitude of the Christians in Corinth could have caused Paul to despair, but he said he was confident that they would continue to function and grow as genuine fruits of God’s grace (cf. Php 1:6). The basis for his confidence was the fact that they were suffering for Christ as he was. They were representing Christ in the world. More than that they would flourish because God’s super-abounding comfort (strength, encouragement) would cause them to stand and withstand the affliction they were experiencing.