Paul the apostle wrote
to
the church members in Corinth about
how the sufferings he endured were,“for”
their
“consolation and salvation”,
and in chapter one and verse seven of
Second Corinthians, Paul shared how, “for
your consolation and salvation”,
where we read:
And our
hope of you is
steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings,
so shall
you be also of the consolation.
The verse begins, “And
our hope of you is
steadfast, knowing, that as you are partakers of the sufferings, ...”
Paul began with the words, “and
our hope” which means “Paul and the
church members' expectation of good, joyful and confidence of eternal
salvation” “of you”
which refers to “the church members” “is
steadfast” which
means “stable, fast, firm, sure and
trusty”, “knowing”
or “perceiving, noticing, discerning and discovering”,
“that as you are partakers” which means
“that in the same manner the church members were partners,
associates, comrades and companions” “of
the sufferings” or “the afflictions,
misfortunes, calamities and evils”. Paul and his companions had a
“stable and trustworthy” “expectation” of the church members
in Corinth because they were “comrades and companions” in
“afflictions and calamities”.
The verse continues, “...
so shall you
be also of the consolation.”
Paul added the words, “so shall you be”
which means “in the like manner will the
church members be” “also” or
“even and indeed” “the
consolation” which means “the calling
near, summoning, importation, supplication, entreaty, admonition,
encouragement, consolation, comfort and solace”.
Paul knew the church members would also receive of the “comfort and
encouragement” he received from the Lord Jesus during their times
of “sufferings”.
When we consider these
words from Paul, we see how he was concerned with the church members'
“hope”, “sufferings” and “consolation”.
Jesus Christ gives us “hope” for eternal life, and the
“sufferings” we endure shall “call near and encourage
us” if we stay close to Him. Though we all “suffer tribulations
and trials”, we, like the church members in Corinth, shall have the
“steadfast” “expectation” of them working an “eternal”
purpose and “consolation”.
Next
time Paul tells the
church members how he would not, “have
you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia”
so read ahead,
and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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