2 Corinthians 1:7 - Meaning and Application

In these verses, the apostle speaks to encourage and strengthen the Corinthians. In verse 7, he says he is sure that they will receive benefit from the troubles that he and his fellow workers met in their labors and travels. Their faith would not be weakened, but their comfort would grow.

To explain this, he first tells them what their suffering was like, as he says in verse 8, “We do not want you to be unaware of our trouble.” Churches should know what their ministers suffer, because it helps them understand the cost of gospel work. We are not told exactly what trouble in Asia he means, whether the riot caused by Demetrius in Ephesus (Acts 19), the struggle with wild beasts in Ephesus mentioned in the earlier letter (1 Corinthians 15:32), or some other hardship. Whatever it was, it was a great distress. They were pressed far beyond what ordinary human strength, or even ordinary Christian strength, could bear, and they even gave up hope of living.

Second, he tells what they did in that distress: they trusted in God. They were brought to this low point so they would not trust in themselves, but in God (2 Corinthians 1:9). God often brings his people into hard places so they can see their own weakness and learn to rely on his full power. When we come to the end of ourselves, God shows himself ready to help. We can safely trust the God who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1:9). Raising the dead proves his almighty power. The one who can do that can do anything, and he is worthy of trust at all times. Abraham’s faith rested on this same truth, that God gives life to the dead (Romans 4:17). Even if we are brought so low that we despair of life, we can still trust the God who can bring us back not only from the edge of death, but from death’s grasp.

Third, Paul says what deliverance they received. Their hope was not wasted, and no one who trusts in God will be put to shame. God had delivered them, and he was still delivering them (2 Corinthians 1:10). As Paul later says, he had received help from God and continued on to that day (Acts 26:22).

Fourth, he says how they used that deliverance. They hoped that God would keep delivering them still (2 Corinthians 1:10), all the way to the end, and preserve them for his heavenly kingdom. Past help should strengthen faith for future troubles. If we distrust God in new trials, after he has already helped us before, we fail to honor what he has done. David, even as a young man with only a few experiences to lean on, reasoned in the same way (1 Samuel 17:37).

Fifth, Paul says what he wanted from the Corinthians in return: that they would help by praying for him and his fellow workers (2 Corinthians 1:11). He means shared prayer, with hearts joined together on their behalf. Trusting God does not replace the means he has appointed, and prayer is one of those means. We should pray for ourselves and for one another. Paul himself had great access to God’s throne of grace, yet he still asked for the help of others’ prayers. If we help one another in prayer, then many can also give thanks when prayer is answered. It is our duty not only to help one another by praying, but also by praising and thanking God for the blessings we receive.