Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble and I'm your host for the Bible Recap.

Today we jumped into 2 Corinthians, which is at least Paul's third letter to the Corinthians

because there's also zero Corinthians which we've never found and maybe more.

Yesterday as we finished off 1st Corinthians, Paul told him he hoped that letter would help

smooth out some of the tension.

He said he's coming to visit soon and that in the meantime they should collect money for the

believers in Jerusalem.

Between that letter and this letter, some people

repented of the things he addressed, while others rebelled all the more.

And for some of those who rebelled, his subsequent visit is what God used to

turn their hearts back to him.

Paul writes this letter in response to the whole situation.

He starts out by praising the God of mercy and comfort.

Paul has experienced both of these things in the midst of all he has endured. He says God does that in part so that when we experience Christ's comfort, we know how to pass it on to others who are suffering.

It's always helpful for me to remember that he says to comfort those who are afflicted, not instruct them.

Paul reiterates this later in Romans 1215 when he says to weep with those who weep,

not put together a detailed list of how they could have avoided this or why it's not

actually a big deal at all or how to solve it. Instead he calls us to enter in and to

speak comfort and hope. Paul and his traveling companions endured a lot in Asia specifically and he's probably talking about all the persecutions they experienced in Ephesus.

He says they despaired of life itself.

But God carry them through and he hopes God will continue to.

He asks for them to pray for him and he says that helps.

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