2 Corinthians 1 · Verse 4

2 Corinthians 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.

2 Corinthians 1:4, King James Version

2 Corinthians 1:4 in other translations

BSB	who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
WEB	who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
ASV	who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
YLT	who is comforting us in all our tribulation, for our being able to comfort those in any tribulation through the comfort with which we are comforted ourselves by God;
DARBY	who encourages us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to encourage those who are in any tribulation whatever, through the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged of God.
BBE	Who gives us comfort in all our troubles, so that we may be able to give comfort to others who are in trouble, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Webster	Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble by the consolation with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

What does 2 Corinthians 1:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. us--idiomatic for me (1Th 2:18). that we may ... comfort them which are in any trouble--Translate, as the Greek is the same as before, "tribulation." The apostle lived, not to himself, but to the Church; so, whatever graces God conferred on him, he considered granted not for himself alone, but that he might have the greater ability to help others [Calvin]. So participation in all the afflictions of man peculiarly qualified Jesus to be man's comforter in all his various afflictions (Is 50:4-6; He 4:15).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 4. Who comforteth us. Paul here doubtless refers primarily to himself and his fellow-apostles as having been filled with comfort in their trials; to the support which the promises of God gave; to the influences of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter; and to the hopes of eternal life through the gospel of the Redeemer.

That we may be able to comfort, etc. Paul does not say that this was the only design which God had in comforting them, that they might be able to impart comfort to others; but he does say that this is an important and main purpose. It is an object which he seeks, that his people in their afflictions should be supported and comforted; and for this purpose he fills the hearts of his ministers with consolation; gives them personal experience of the sustaining power of grace in their trials; and enables them to speak of what they have felt in regard to the consolations of the gospel of the Lord Jesus.

By the comfort, etc. By the same topics of consolation; by the same sources of joy which have sustained us. They would have experience; and by that experience they would be able to minister consolation to those who were in any manner afflicted. It is only by personal experience that we are able to impart consolation to others. Paul refers here undoubtedly to the consolations which are produced by the evidence of the pardon of sin, and of acceptance with God, and the hope of eternal life. These consolations abounded in him and his fellow-apostles richly; and sustained by them he was able also to impart like consolation to others who were in similar circumstances of trial.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 Who comforteth us - Who shows himself to be the God of tender mercy, by condescending to notice us, who have never deserved any good at his hand; and also the God of all consolation, by comforting us in all our tribulation - never leaving us a prey to anxiety, carking care, persecution, or temptation; but, by the comforts of his Spirit, bearing us up in, through, and above, all our trials and difficulties. That we may be able to comfort them - Even spiritual comforts are not given us for our use alone; they, like all the gifts of God, are given that they may be distributed, or become the instruments of help to others. A minister's trials and comforts are permitted and sent for the benefit of the Church. What a miserable preacher must he be who has all his divinity by study and learning, and nothing by experience! If his soul have not gone through all the travail of regeneration, if his heart have not felt the love of God shed abroad in it by the Holy Ghost, he can neither instruct the ignorant nor comfort the distressed. See 2Cor 1:6.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

He professes his own and his fellow-labourers' integrity. (12-14) Gives reasons for his not coming to them. (15-24) Verses 1-11 We are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. The Lord is able to give peace to the troubled conscience, and to calm the raging passions of the soul. These blessings are given by him, as the Father of his redeemed…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 →

2 Corinthians 1:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὁhowhoG3588

παρακαλῶνparakalōnis comfortingG3870

ἡμᾶςhēmasusG3165

ἐπὶepiinG1909

πάσῃpasēallG3956

τῇtēatheG3588

θλίψειthlipseitribulationG2347

ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165

εἰςeisforG1519

τὸto<the>G3588

δύνασθαιdunasthaito be ableG1410

ἡμᾶςhēmasusG3165

παρακαλεῖνparakaleinto comfortG3870

τοὺςtousthoseG3588

ἐνeninG1722

πάσῃpasēeveryG3956

θλίψειthlipseitribulationG2347

διὰdiathroughG1223

τῆςtēstheG3588

παρακλήσεωςparaklēseōscomfortG3874

ἧςhēswith whichG3739

παρακαλούμεθαparakaloumethawe are comfortedG3870

αὐτοὶautoiourselvesG846

ὑπὸhupobyG5259

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦ·theouGod;G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 1:4

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Isaiah 51:12
I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
2 Corinthians 7:6-7
Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
Isaiah 40:1
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Psalms 32:7
Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
John 14:18
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Hebrews 12:12
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Psalms 34:2-6
My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. …
Isaiah 12:1
And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
Isaiah 66:12-14
For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

comforteth.
7:6,7; Ps 86:17; Isa 12:1; 49:10; 51:3,12; 52:9; 66:12,13; Joh 14:16
Joh 14:18,26; 2Th 2:16,17
that.
5,6; Ps 32:5,7; 34:2-6; 66:16; Isa 40:1; 66:14; Php 1:14; 1Th 4:18
1Th 5:11; Heb 12:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2 Corinthians 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.
2 Corinthians 1:5
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 1

2 Corinthians 1:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	El cual nos consuela en todas nuestras tribulaciones, para que podamos también nosotros consolar á los que están en cualquiera angustia, con la consolación con que nosotros somos consolados de Dios.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	qui nous console à l’égard de toute notre affliction, afin que nous soyons capables de consoler ceux qui sont dans quelque affliction que ce soit, par la consolation dont nous sommes nous-mêmes consolés de Dieu.
German Elberfelder 1871	der uns tröstet in all unserer Drangsal, auf daß wir die trösten können, die in allerlei Drangsal sind, durch den Trost, mit welchem wir selbst von Gott getröstet werden;
Latin Clementine Vulgate	qui consolatur nos in omni tribulatione nostra: ut possimus et ipsi consolari eos qui in omni pressura sunt, per exhortationem, qua exhortamur et ipsi a Deo.