2 Corinthians 1:3 Meaning and Explanation
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Before Paul speaks of his own suffering, he names God by His tenderest titles: the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
The Context of 2 Corinthians 1:3
Paul writes from a season of deep affliction, having despaired even of life (verse 8). Out of that low place, the first thing he does is bless God, opening the letter with worship rather than complaint.
What Does 2 Corinthians 1:3 Mean?
Paul reaches for two names that tell us who God is when life is hard. He is the Father of mercies, the source from whom all compassion flows, and the God of all comfort, with no kind of sorrow left outside His care. The word for comfort carries the sense of someone called to our side, drawing near to strengthen us. Paul has just come through real anguish, and he has found God to be exactly this, near and tender in the worst of it.
These mercies have a face. God is named here as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is in Jesus that the God of all comfort came close enough to weep with us and carry our griefs. The comfort is near and real and present. It reached down into our world in Christ, who knows our sorrows from the inside and meets us in them still.
2 Corinthians 1:3 in the Original Language
paraklesis (παράκλησις), 'comfort' -- a coming alongside to encourage and strengthen.
How to Apply 2 Corinthians 1:3 Today
When we are low, this verse gives us God's truest names to hold onto: the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. No grief we carry falls outside His care, and in Jesus that comfort has come near enough to weep beside us.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 1:3
What does 2 Corinthians 1:3 mean?
Before Paul speaks of his own suffering, he names God by His tenderest titles: the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
What is the context of 2 Corinthians 1:3?
Paul writes from a season of deep affliction, having despaired even of life (verse 8). Out of that low place, the first thing he does is bless God, opening the letter with worship rather than complaint.
How can I apply 2 Corinthians 1:3 today?
When we are low, this verse gives us God's truest names to hold onto: the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. No grief we carry falls outside His care, and in Jesus that comfort has come near enough to weep beside us.