Fathers

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What the Fathers say

2 Corinthians 1:5

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ." Not to depress the disciples by an aggravated account of his sufferings; he declareth on the other hand that great and superabundant was the consolation also, and lifteth up their heart not hereby alone, but also by putting them in mind of Christ and calling the sufferings "His," and prior to the consolation deriveth a comfort from the very sufferings themselves. …

Homily 1 on 2 Corinthians ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Let no one lose heart, he says, who hears of afflictions and sufferings, for to the degree that they multiply, consolations also increase. He did not simply say "sufferings" either, but "of Christ," so as to encourage the Corinthians by this as well. The sufferings of Christ are those which we endure and through which we become partakers with Him in sufferings. Therefore, let this very thing be the greatest consolation for you: that you bear the sufferings of Christ, and not only His, but even greater ones. …

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Having mentioned the profit which comes to others from the apostles, he gives the reason for what he has said: For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. And because he has said two things, namely, that God comforts us in every affliction and that we ourselves can also comfort others, he explains here the reason for these two things: first, he shows how God comforts us in every affliction; secondly, how our comfort is turned to the comfort of others (v. 6). …

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗