kjv@2Corinthians:1:1@ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
kjv@2Corinthians:1:2@ Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
kjv@2Corinthians:1:3@ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
kjv@2Corinthians:1:4@ Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
kjv@2Corinthians:1:5@ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
kjv@2Corinthians:1:6@ And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
kjv@2Corinthians:1:7@ And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
kjv@2Corinthians:1:8@ 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:
kjv@2Corinthians:1:9@ But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
kjv@2Corinthians:1:10@ Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
kjv@2Corinthians:1:11@ 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.
kjv@2Corinthians:1:12@ For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
kjv@2Corinthians:1:13@ For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
kjv@2Corinthians:1:14@ As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
kjv@2Corinthians:1:15@ And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
kjv@2Corinthians:1:16@ And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.
kjv@2Corinthians:1:17@ When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
kjv@2Corinthians:1:19@ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
kjv@2Corinthians:1:20@ For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
kjv@2Corinthians:1:21@ Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
kjv@2Corinthians:1:22@ Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
kjv@2Corinthians:1:23@ Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
kjv@2Corinthians:1:24@ Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
Whether Paul's team was afflicted or comforted, it was for our comfort and salvation. Both abounded with his team, sufferings and comfort because they abound in Christ. They were afflicted even to the point of death. They considered themselves dead and only by the deliverance of God did they continue. Our consolation is effectual in all sufferings but particularly in the same sufferings which they suffered.
This is all one sentence. These items are connected as one. The idea of obedience coming before revenge is just as vital to the statement as the means of our warfare. tsk@2Corinthians:10:3-6 has some good links to look to.
The fact that Paul has been addressing these things throughout this letter must mean that somebody(s) were accusing Him him of such. Other Jesus's are what we still face today. Selling another Jesus often involves placing doubt upon character of the saints of the true Jesus. Paul is attacked even today by numerous groups presuming to have a clearer definition of Jesus. It is not the same Jesus however.
You would think that a messenger of love and truth would be well accepted as people need a good bit of love and truth. You would think that people would be thankful for a man willing to suffer such things to bring us such truth and not complain that he was too soft or too hard or too.... We would like to think that if we are anything as believers that we are much like this man. Most likely though it is overwhelmingly possible that we are like the many that inflicted such upon him or looked away and that the people that we have put in charge of putting us in rememberence of these truths are not this type of man who has for a long time suffered our whims.
Are we to take this that there are signs/wonders/deeds that only an apostle can do? Almost like an confirmation of apostleship? WHat signs and wonders would these be?
An uncleanness/fornication/lasciviousness is sweeping through this church. Instead of being repentant and chaste they are seemingly becoming accusatory and slanderous of Paul. He had sent Titus but, it is quickly becoming an issue that he will have to address himself to answer his accusers. Sin has this manner where it puffs itself up, justifies itself by attacking/diminishing the person that represents righteousness.
There is a fine line between edification and destruction when addressing situations like this. The sense that Paul has is that his accusers are attempting to rattle him, make him say something or do something that would turn out to their advantage. By challenging him to prove himself as an Apostle their hope is to make him over react or be over bearing enough to push people away, show that he is operating from his own pride and sense of possession. There is also the chance that he may shy away and underplay the situation as well. We, much like Paul, must be prayerful, direct and and Spirit led in these situations too.
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