2 Corinthians 1:4
What does 2 Corinthians 1:4 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 1:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Corinthians 1:4 means
God’s comfort is comprehensive—he comforts “in all our affliction.” But it is not meant to terminate on us. God strengthens us so we can strengthen others “in any affliction,” passing along the very comfort we received. Suffering becomes a stewardship. When God meets us in pain, he equips us to become channels of encouragement. This rejects self-absorption and honors the church’s interdependence. Paul emphasizes the source: the comfort we give is the comfort God gave. The pattern is gospel-shaped—received grace becomes shared grace. Thus affliction, paired with divine consolation, produces compassionate ministers who can speak credibly to others’ sorrows because they have known God’s help themselves.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000who 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Who 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901who 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Who 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.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862who 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;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we also may be able to comfort them who are in all distress, by the exhortation wherewith we also are exhorted by God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890who 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 ofGod.
Context
After praising God as the God of all comfort, Paul explains the purpose of that comfort. The movement is from God, to us, to others. This prepares the Corinthians to see Paul’s hardships not as discrediting his ministry but as qualifying him to minister more deeply. The next verses will intensify the link between suffering and Christ, and between comfort and Christ, underscoring that Christian consolation is Christ-centered. Paul will then apply this to the Corinthians’ experience, showing that their participation in sufferings and comfort is part of God’s design for the body of Christ.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 51:12
I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou art afraid of man that shall die, and of the son of man that shall be made as grass;
- John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever,
- Isaiah 52:9
Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for Jehovah hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
- Psalms 32:7
Thou art my hiding-place; thou wilt preserve me from trouble; Thou wilt compass me about with songs of deliverance. [Selah
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do.
- Psalms 86:17
Show me a token for good, That they who hate me may see it, and be put to shame, Because thou, Jehovah, hast helped me, and comforted me.
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