2 Corinthians 1:5 For as Christ’s sufferings overflow for us, so through Christ our comfort also overflows.
The grammar of this sentence is a bit awkward in the Greek, with a plural subject and singular verb. The subject could be taken as a collective whole, referring to Christ’s suffering that included his earthly life, trial, crucifixion, and death. Christ went through all this suffering voluntarily, as a substitute for the suffering we should experience because of our sin. He suffered for us, in our behalf, so that we might have eternal life. Christ’s suffering were not just enough to get by but they “overflowed” in “abundance.” Where sin abounded through Adam, grace much more abounds through Christ (Romans 5:20). Christ’s suffering shows God’s love for us.
It is through the power of God revealed through this suffering that we are enabled to offer comfort to others. Suffering leads to comfort. This at first may seem an irony. However, when we acknowledge Christ’s suffering for us, it should make us thankful and more empathetic to those who are going through suffering. We realize that any strength we have does not come from our efforts but is first resourced through what God has done for us in Christ. Christ is the instrument through which we find the strength to minister to others through comforting them. This is a well that never runs dry. If we rely on our own abilities or emotions, these are shallow and will dry up. Paul has made the most important connection possible and pointed out the deep resource for comforting others.
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