For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
Parallel translations
- WEB For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ.
- KJV For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
- BSB For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
- NKJV For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
- NASB For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Just as believers share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, they also share abundantly in His comfort. The two rise and fall together in the Christian life.
Overview
Paul speaks of 'the sufferings of Christ' overflowing to believers, meaning the afflictions endured for Christ's sake and in union with Him. As suffering increases, so does the comfort that comes through Christ, keeping them in proportion. This grounds Christian endurance not in escaping hardship but in Christ's sustaining presence within it.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Col 1:24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the assembly;
- Phil 3:10that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death;
- 2 Th 2:16–17Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,
- Phil 1:20according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.
- 2 Cor 4:10–11always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
- Phil 2:1If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,
- 1 Cor 4:10–13We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.
- 2 Cor 11:23–30Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.
- Acts 9:4He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
- Luke 2:25Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
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Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 1:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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