2 Corinthians 1:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

NIV: as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

NASB: if you also join in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons in our behalf for the favor granted to us through the prayers of many.

CSB: while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.

NLT: And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

KJV: Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

NKJV: you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

Paul has praised the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort for, in part, delivering him and his companions from a situation in which they seemed as good as dead (1 Corinthians 1:8–9). In addition, Paul has praised God for the comfort He gave through their suffering, a comfort he is now able to share with the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:7).

Now Paul references prayer. Depending on how this is translated, he either directs the Corinthians to pray faithfully for him and his co-workers, or he makes the statement that they had already been praying. In either case, Paul insists his deliverance from the near-death experience, given by God, was made possible by the prayers of many people to God on behalf of himself and his friends.

This, again, is seen as a benefit of their suffering: many people knew about their situation, prayed to ask for God's help, and have now seen God's answer to their prayers. As a result, all those people have opportunity to thank God for answering their prayers.

To be clear, Paul never expresses his desire to suffer. He does not sound like he wanted, or would want, this terrible thing to happen to him and his companions, whatever it was. He has simply shown that suffering is part of life for all people and especially for those who serve as Christ's representatives. He has expressed several benefits of his suffering, including this one: If he and his friends had not suffered in this way, people would not have prayed for them. Because he and his friends suffered, people prayed and will now give thanks and glory to God for answering their prayers.

Paul makes a point of noting that the Corinthians were part of the eventual success. They joined in this God-glorifying event through their own prayers.

Second Corinthians 1:3–11 contains profound praise to God for His comfort of all in affliction. Paul connects Christian suffering to the sufferings of Christ. This shows the Corinthians how Paul's suffering and the comfort he has received from God during it have been for their benefit. Paul has experienced grave suffering recently, bringing him and his co-workers to the edge of death. The God who raises the dead has delivered them. Paul invites the Corinthians to participate in the celebration of God's power by continuing to pray for Paul and his companions and to give thanks for God's deliverance.

Paul begins another letter to the Corinthians following a series of tumultuous events with them. He begins by praising God for His comfort to those who are in affliction, connecting Christian suffering to the sufferings of Christ. Paul insists that his suffering and the comfort he has received from God have been for the Corinthians' benefit. He defends both his integrity and sincerity in dealing with them and explains that he delayed his planned trip to visit them again for their sake.

Second Corinthians 1 follows about a year after the end of 1 Corinthians, and much has happened between the two letters. Paul has had a painful visit with the Corinthians before traveling to Macedonia, where he wrote a painful letter. The text of which has not been kept. He writes this new letter from Macedonia, as well, after learning about a positive change of heart on their behalf. Paul begins by praising God for His comfort for those who are afflicted and defending himself against several complaints from some in the church.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.