1:1 Paul, {1} an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
(1) See the declaration of such salutations in the former epistles.
1:1 Paul's Anxiety Over the Corinthian Church
SUMMARY OF II CORINTHIANS 1:
Salutations. Paul's Recent Danger in Asia. His Conscientious Sincerity in Preaching the Gospel at Corinth. An Answer to Those Who Criticized His Change of Plans in Coming. to Corinth.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ. See PNT 1Co 1:1.
And Timothy [our] brother. Timothy had been sent to Corinth along with the First Letter (1Co 4:17) and had now returned to Paul. As he had so recently been on a special mission to Corinth, he joins in the salutation.
With all the saints who are in all Achaia. That is, in the whole of Greece, Achaia being the Roman name of the province. Corinth was the Roman capital. Hence it seems that other churches already existed in the province. We know of two, Cenchrea (Ro 16:1) and possibly Athens (Ac 17:34).
1:1 Timotheus our brother - St. Paul writing to Timotheus styled him his son; writing of him, his brother.
1:1-11 We are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. The Lord is able to give peace to the troubled conscience, and to calm the raging passions of the soul. These blessings are given by him, as the Father of his redeemed family. It is our Saviour who says, Let not your heart be troubled. All comforts come from God, and our sweetest comforts are in him. He speaks peace to souls by granting the free remission of sins; and he comforts them by the enlivening influences of the Holy Spirit, and by the rich mercies of his grace. He is able to bind up the broken-hearted, to heal the most painful wounds, and also to give hope and joy under the heaviest sorrows. The favours God bestows on us, are not only to make us cheerful, but also that we may be useful to others. He sends comforts enough to support such as simply trust in and serve him. If we should be brought so low as to despair even of life, yet we may then trust God, who can bring back even from death. Their hope and trust were not in vain; nor shall any be ashamed who trust in the Lord. Past experiences encourage faith and hope, and lay us under obligation to trust in God for time to come. And it is our duty, not only to help one another with prayer, but in praise and thanksgiving, and thereby to make suitable returns for benefits received. Thus both trials and mercies will end in good to ourselves and others.
