the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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2 Corinthians 1:3
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Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Blessed: Genesis 14:20, 1 Chronicles 29:10, Nehemiah 9:5, Job 1:21, Psalms 18:46, Psalms 72:19, Daniel 4:34, Ephesians 1:3, 1 Peter 1:3
the Father of our: 2 Corinthians 11:31, John 5:22, John 5:23, John 10:30, John 20:17, Romans 15:6, Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 1:17, Philippians 2:11, 2 John 1:4, 2 John 1:9
the Father of mercies: Psalms 86:5, Psalms 86:15, Daniel 9:9, Micah 7:18
the God: Romans 15:5
Reciprocal: Genesis 19:16 - the Lord Job 15:11 - the consolations Job 29:25 - one that Psalms 25:6 - thy tender mercies Psalms 59:10 - The God Psalms 119:76 - merciful Isaiah 33:2 - our salvation Isaiah 51:3 - the Lord Isaiah 51:12 - am he John 16:33 - but Acts 16:40 - they comforted 2 Corinthians 7:6 - that comforteth Philippians 1:14 - waxing 2 Thessalonians 2:17 - Comfort 2 Peter 1:17 - God
Cross-References
See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.
See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.
Behold, He spreads His lightning about Him,And He covers the depths of the sea.
"Behold, He spreads His lightning about Him, And He covers the depths of the sea.
Behold, he doth stretch his light vpon it, and couereth the bottome of the sea.
Lo, he spreadeth his light around him, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
Look, He scatters His light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea.
Behold, He spreads His light about Him, and He covers the bottom of the sea.
Look, he spreads lightning all over the sky and covers the deepest part of the ocean.
Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Blessed be God,.... This is an ascription of praise and glory to God, for he can only be blessed of men, by their praising and glorifying him, or by ascribing honour and blessing to him: and in this form of blessing him he is described, first by his relation to Christ,
even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: whose Son Christ is, not by creation, as angels and men, nor by adoption, as saints, but in such a way of filiation, as no creatures are, or possibly can be: he is his only begotten Son, his own proper Son, his natural and eternal Son, is of the same nature with him, and equal to him in perfections, power, and glory. This is rightly prefaced by the apostle to the other following characters, since there is no mercy nor comfort administered to the sons of men but through the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and Saviour of sinners. And next he is described by his attribute of mercy, and the effects of it, or by his merciful disposition to his creatures,
the Father of mercies. The Jews frequently address God in their prayers a under the title or character of, אב הרחמים, "Father of mercies". The plural number is used, partly to show that God is exceeding merciful; he delights in showing mercy to poor miserable creatures, and is rich and plenteous in the exercise of it: nothing is more common in the Talmudic writings, than to call him רחמנא, "the merciful", and this is partly to express the multitude of his tender mercies, of which he is the "Father", author, and giver, both in a temporal, and spiritual sense; for there are not only innumerable providential mercies which the people of God share in, and partake of, but also a multitude of spiritual mercies. Such as redemption by Christ, pardon of sin through his blood, regeneration by his Spirit, supplies of grace out of his fulness, and the word and ordinances; all which are owing to the mercy of God, which they have abundant reason to be thankful to him, and bless him for, being altogether unworthy and undeserving of them. God is also described by his work of comforting the saints,
and the God of all comfort; most rightly is this character given him, for there is no solid comfort but what comes from him; there is none to be had in, and from the creatures; and whatever is had through them it is from him: and all spiritual comfort is of him; whatever consolation the saints enjoy they have it from God, the Father of Christ, and who is their covenant God and Father in Christ; and the consolation they have from him through Christ in a covenant way is not small, and for which they have great reason to bless the Lord, as the apostle here does; for it is from him that Christ, the consolation of Israel, and the Spirit, the Comforter, come, and whatever is enjoyed by the Gospel.
a Seder Tephillot, fol. 55. 8. Ed. Basil. fol. 77. 1. & passim, Ed. Amstelod. Sapher Shaare Zion, fol. 54. 1. Vid. Kabbala Denudata, par. 1. p. 7.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Blessed be God - This is the commencement properly of the Epistle, and it is the language of a heart that is full of joy, and that bursts forth with gratitude in view of mercy. It may have been excited by the recollection that he had formerly written to them, and that during the interval which had elapsed between the time when the former Epistle was written and when this was penned, he had been called to a most severe trial, and that from that trial he had been mercifully delivered. With a heart full of gratitude and joy for this merciful interposition, he commences this Epistle. It is remarked by Doddridge, that 11 out of the 13 epistles of Paul, begin with exclamations of praise, joy, and thanksgiving. Paul had been afflicted, but he had also been favored with remarkable consolations, and it was not unnatural that he should allow himself to give expression to his joy and praise in view of all the mercies which God had conferred on him. This entire passage is one that is exceedingly valuable, as showing that there may be elevated joy in the midst of deep affliction, and as showing what is the reason why God visits his servants with trials. The phrase “blessed be God,” is equivalent to “praised be God;” or is an expression of thanksgiving. It is the usual formula of praise (compare Ephesians 1:3); and shows his entire confidence in God, and his joy in him, and his gratitude for his mercies. it is one of innumerable instances which show that it is possible and proper to bless God in view of the trials with which he visits his people, and of the consolations which he causes to abound.
The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ - God is mentioned here in the relation of the “Father of the Lord Jesus,” doubtless because it was through the Lord Jesus, and him alone, that He had imparted the consolation which he had experienced, 2 Corinthians 1:5. Paul knew no other God than the “Father of the Lord Jesus;” he knew no other source of consolation than the gospel; he knew of no way in which God imparted comfort except through his Son. That is genuine Christian consolation which acknowledges the Lord Jesus as the medium by whom it is imparted; that is proper thanksgiving to God which is offered through the Redeemer; that only is the proper acknowledgment of God which recognizes him as the “Father of the Lord Jesus.”
The Father of mercies - This is a Hebrew mode of expression, where a noun performs the place of an adjective. and the phrase is synonymous nearly with “merciful Father.” The expression has however somewhat more energy and spirit than the simple phrase “merciful Father.” The Hebrews used the word “father” often to denote the author, or source of anything; and the idea in phraseology like this is, that mercy proceeds from God, that he is the source of it, and that it is his nature to impart mercy and compassion, as if he originated it; or was the source and fountain of it - sustaining a relation to all true consolation analogous to that which a father sustains to his offspring. God has the paternity of all true joy. It is one of his special and glorious attributes that he thus produces consolation and mercy.
And the God of all comfort - The source of all consolation. Paul delighted, as all should do, to trace all his comforts to God; and Paul, as all Christians have, had sufficient reason to regard God as the source of true consolation. There is no other real source of happiness but God; and he is able abundantly, and willing to impart consolation to his people.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 2 Corinthians 1:3. Blessed be God — Let God have universal and eternal praise:
1. Because he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the gift of his endless love to man, John 1:16.
John 1:2. Because he is the Father of mercies, ὁ Πατηρ των οικτιρμων, the source whence all mercy flows, whether it respect the body or the soul, time or eternity; the source of tender mercy; for so the word implies. Romans 12:1. And,
3. Because he is the God of all comfort-the Fountain whence all consolation, happiness, and bliss flow to angels and to men.
