1. 2 Cor. was written about 6 to 18 months after 1 Cor., following Paul's visit in Macedonia with Titus, who reported the response of the church to Paul's overtures (cf. 2 Cor. 2:12-13; 7:11-16). Dr. Utley 2. 2 Cor. is a very intense and personal letter. Even the casual reader can pick up on his intense emotional state. Scholars have identified the lack of complete sentences. 3. In this text Paul is giving his spiritual defense. 4. Paul is a missionary of comfort. 5. We should be ministers of comfort. 6. C.S. Lewis said, "God who foresaw your tribulation has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain, but without stain." 7. Divine comfort is always fully sufficient for the occasion. 8. Someone has said, "Those who suffer much experience the ministry of the Holy Spirit and live much." 9. Paul is celebrating the supernatural empowerment of God. 10. All of us have experienced God's comfort. 11. Anyone who is living a life of ease is spiritually stagnant. 12. 2 Corinthians is a Christ-centered letter. 13. Intercessory prayer has great power! 14. This text leads us to renounce all confidence in ourselves. 15. Someone has said, "God did deliver us, God does deliver us, God will deliver us." 16. This text and book reveals that Paul requested prayer many times. Shouldn't we request prayer from our brothers and sisters in Christ? 17. God's ministry toward us enables us to persevere. 18. This text leads us to ask the following question: Am I discouraged and am I asking the Holy Spirit to minister to me? 19. Is my hope in self or in Christ? 20. Ministry is demanding and requires a deep and dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. 21. The Holy Spirit wants to minister to ever believer and wants ever non-believer to come to Jesus Christ. 22. We should constantly "bless" our Heavenly Father. Are you blessing God? 23. The word "comfort" is used 10 times in this text. 24. This text says there are 2 reasons why Christians suffer: a. So that they can comfort others, 2 Cor. 1:4 and b. to keep us from depending on ourselves. 25. The word "affliction" means "to squeeze or crush". 26. Have we thanked God for the countless times He has comforted us? 27. I trust that you have friends that you share your afflictions with and also share in comforting them as they are dealing with pain and suffering. 28. Dr. Utley says, "When it comes to what God in Christ has done for believers, it is always SUPERABUNDANT, EXTRAVAGANT, ABOVE AND BEYOND." 29. 2 Cor. 1:7 demonstrated than suffering has a divine purpose. 30. Do we know the "God of all Comfort"