{"author":null,"canonical_references":[],"database_sha256":"8cfbe7284c6936871d57c02dc6aa63ebbdfd4722422d539dd9f716e46e91112e","date_end":null,"date_start":null,"edition_year":null,"id":"sermonindex-ecf-1749","native_reference":{"book_number":540,"chapter_from":1,"chapter_to":1,"system":"MyBible module coordinates (mapping unverified)","verse_from":4,"verse_to":4},"public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"verse-keyed-module-record","review_required":["English edition and exact text","author/work attribution","dating","verse mapping and citation kind","reuse and attribution","split author quotations and deduplicate"],"review_status":"unreviewed","source_html":"<p><b>Ambrosiaster</b>: Paul mentions two kinds of consolation. One is the sort by which people who are suffering distress unjustly on account of the name of Christ find consolation in being set free. The other is the consolation of those who, when they are grieved because of sins, receive consolation from the fact that hope of forgiveness is promised to them when they mend their ways. This happens amid a community of those who have received consolation from God and been rescued from distress.<br/><i>— COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES</i></p><p><b>Gregory of Nyssa</b>: But what does it mean to say that the kingdom of God is within us? What else than the gladness which comes from on high to souls through the Spirit? For this is like an image and a deposit and a pattern of everlasting grace which the souls of the saints enjoy in the time which is to come. So the Lord summons us through the activity of the Spirit to salvation through our afflictions and to a sharing in the goods of the Spirit and his own graces. For he says: \"Who comforts us in our afflictions, that we also may be able to comfort those who are in any distress.\"<br/><i>— ON THE CHRISTIAN MODE OF LIFE</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: \"Who 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.\" And observe, I pray you, herein also the lowly-mindedness of Paul. For though he were in peril because of the Gospel he preached; yet saith he not, he was saved for his merit, but for the mercies of God. But this he afterwards declareth more clearly, and now goes on to say, \"Who comforteth us in all affliction.\" He saith not, \"Who suffereth us not to come into affliction:\" but, \"Who comforteth in affliction.\" For this at once declareth the power of God; and increaseth the patience of those afflicted. For, saith he, \"tribulation worketh patience.\" And so also the prophet, \"Thou hast set me at large when I was in distress.\" He doth not say, \"Thou hast not suffered me to fall into affliction,\" nor yet, \"Thou hast quickly removed my affliction,\" but, whilst it continueth, \"Thou hast set me at large:\" that is, \"hast granted me much freedom and refreshment.\" Which truly happened also in the case of the three children, for neither did He prevent their being cast into the flame, nor when so cast, did He quench it, but while the furnace was burning He gave them liberty. And such is ever God's way of dealing; as Paul also implies when he says, \"Who comforteth us in all affliction.\"</p><p>But he teaches something more in these words: Do you ask what? Namely, that God doeth this not once, nor twice, but without intermission. For He doth not one while comfort, another not, but ever and constantly. Wherefore he saith, \"Who comforteth,\" not, \"Who hath comforted,\" and, \"in all affliction,\" not, \"in this or that,\" but, \"in all.\"</p><p>\"That we may be able to comfort them which are in any affliction through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.\" See you not how he is beforehand with his defence by suggesting to the hearer the thought of some great affliction; and herein also is his modesty again apparent, that he saith not for their own merits was this mercy showed, but for the sake of those that need their assistance; \"for,\" saith he, \"to this end hath He comforted us that we might comfort one another.\" And hereby also he manifesteth the excellency of the Apostles, shewing that having been comforted and breathed awhile, he lieth not softly down as we, but goeth on his way to anoint, to nerve, to rouse others.<br/><i>— Homily 1 on 2 Corinthians</i></p><p><b>Severian of Gabala</b>: Paul sets this down beforehand because he is about to say that the man who had been condemned because of his sin should be reconciled by God's comforting power.<br/><i>— PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH</i></p>","source_html_sha256":"db26cced45028e81cab5921c24c6c7a85064c1a0affc799a7ea2ead863f8a399","source_module":"ECF","source_row_id":1749,"source_url":"https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ecf/","text_sha256":"daa9a209247d7198f892cb84b6fd8741f3f533da5a4b882c83a80899eae74a25","translator":null,"work":null}