Bible Strands
2 Corinthians 1:5
For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian church from a context of recent hardship, immediately following his explanation that God comforts believers so they can extend that same comfort to others. He frames his own afflictions as part of a broader apostolic pattern rather than an isolated personal trial.
The words — The Greek περισσεύει (perisseuei) literally means "abounds" or "overflows," and the text uses it twice to describe both Christ's sufferings and the believer's comfort. This structural repetition establishes a direct proportional relationship between the two realities.
The thread — The pattern of participating in Christ's afflictions and receiving reciprocal consolation appears in Colossians 1:24, Philippians 3:10, and Philippians 1:20. These passages collectively trace a consistent biblical motif where apostolic hardship and divine comfort function as a shared currency for the church.
Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to stop treating suffering and comfort as isolated events and instead recognize them as interconnected transfers originating from Christ. It demands active participation in this cycle by receiving God's comfort and extending it to others without diminishing either.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
Cross-references
- Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.
- Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,
- Philippians 1:20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope,
- 2 Corinthians 4:10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
- Philippians 2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
- 1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.
- 2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.
- Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
- Acts 9:4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”