Epistles of Paul 50

Well, brethren, good evening. Tonight we're going to start 2 Corinthians. And as we recall, Paul was used by God to raise the Church in Corinth during his second journey, his second missionary trip. And he was there for about one and a half years. We read that in Acts 18. So we're going to look at a few sections of Acts 9 again today. So you might want to keep a marker there. But in Acts 18, verse 11, we read, and he continued there a year and six months. So about 18 months, teaching the Word of God amongst them. But then there is an interesting little statement on the next verse here. And the interesting little statement is that when Galio was pro-counsel of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat. So we have a situation here, or a time period, when Galio was pro-counsel of Galia. Now from the Bible archaeology report of October 2019, I'm going to read certain parts of it. Maybe I'm not quoting it exactly what it says. But the most famous and most important artifact relating to Galio is the Delphi inscription, sometimes called the Galio inscription. In 1905, a French excavation team at Delphi, Greece, unearthed a group of four fragments inscribed with a Greek inscription. This inscription is called the Delphi inscription and is, according to the Bible Archaeology Report, of immense importance for New Testament studies.

First, it confirms that Galio was the pro-counsel of Achaia, as Luke recorded in the book of Acts. And that's what I just finished reading in Acts 18 verse 12. At that time, Achaia was a Roman senatorial province which included the cities of Athens, Corinth, and Delphi.

Now, secondly, this stone helps us to pinpoint the date of Paul's stay in Corinth.

The inscription states that Claudius had been, quote, a claimed emperor for the 26th time, dating it to between January and August AD 52. It was 52 of the current era. In this book on biblical chronology, and I've got this book, yeah, I bought it some time ago, this book of biblical chronology from Paul, from Abraham to Paul, by Andrew E. Steinman. So in this book on page 305, it notes that since pro-councils usually took office on May 1st and served only for one year, we know that Galleus served as pro-counsel of Achaia from the second half of AD 51 to the first half of AD 52. So this inscription, this Galleu inscription or Delphi inscription, as it's called either one or the other, this inscription is a fixed time marker by which we can date most of Paul's ministry and much of the history of the early church. I thought I'd share that with you because that's interesting. Now, as we read here in verse 12 of Acts 18, it says when Galle was pro-counsel of Achaia and now where is Achaia? So we are talking about Paul's second journey and so I'm going to share with you a map. Let's just share this map and in this map you can see where the area of Achaia is.

The area of Achaia is right there where Corinth and Athens, that area is. So when Galle was pro-counsel of Achaia, and this therefore we're talking about a date in round about the second half of A.D. 51.

Some people say probably July A.D. 51. Would it be May or June? Would it be the beginning date of Galle's pro-counsel ship? And so we read here in verse, continue in verse 13, 14, and 15 saying, this fellow, a big part of the A.D. 51. And then we read in verse 21 of Acts 18, when it says then, says, or big part of them, it says in verse 18, so Paul still remained a good time. Then he took leave of the brethren, he sat for Syria, and Priscilla and Achille were within. He had his cut off a same kraia for he had taken a vow, and then he came to Ephesus in verse 19. And then he says, but took leave of them, saying, Amas, by all means, keep this coming feast in Jerusalem. So that was probably Passover, which would have been A.D. 52. So let me share this map again with you, so we can get an idea. Yeah, Paul was in Corinth, he says, and then he took sail. We read that he stayed there for a while, and then he came to Ephesus. So he came to Ephesus, and then he was hoping to stay there, and then go to Jerusalem for Passover towards the latter part of, I beg your pardon, towards the early part of A.D. 52. All right, let's go on reading in Acts 18, verse 22. And when he had landed at Caesarea, that's around near Jerusalem, he had gone up and greeted the church. He went down to Antioch, and that represents the end of his second journey.

Again, remember, there are two Antiochs, and there's this Antioch here. So he went to Caesarea, and from there he went to the church, and then he went to Antioch, and that basically was his home base, where he would leave for his different journeys. You see, there's another Antioch, which is Antioch of Cydia, which is not shown in this map. But he went back to Antioch, and that was the end of his second journey. All right, so let me continue then. So he stayed sometime in Antioch.

We read that in verse 23. After he had spent some time there in Antioch, then he departed, and then he went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order strengthening all the disciples. So he stayed for some time, sometime in that, let's call it, his own base, Antioch.

He doesn't say, how long was that sometime? Did he stay there just for a few months in AD 52?

Or did he stay there for one or two years? We don't know. But then he says in verse 23, and he went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order strengthening these the disciples. And that is his second, a big part of that, is the beginning of his third missionary trip. So I'll show you now his third missionary trip. So he left in Antioch, and then as we read here, he then in, he departed to the region of Galatia and Phrygia. So this is the Galatian region and Phrygia. And so he went in this area, and then he ended up, he says he went, and we can see, ended up in Ephesus, as we'll see briefly. So that's his third trip. Now, in Acts 19 verse 1, in Acts 19 verse 1, it says, and it happened when Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus and finding some disciples there. So he went through that region of Galatia and, as it says, there in Phrygia, and then he came to Ephesus. And then when was that? Well, it could have been soon after 52, maybe 53.

I remember when I did ABC lectures, they mentioned at that time that probably the beginning of his third trip was between 54 to 57. So his third missionary trip was from 54 to 57. But whenever it was 54, or maybe 53 to 56, the point was round about that mid the year's 50.

54 or 55. And then we read here in Acts 19 verse 8, Acts 19 verse 8, he says, and he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly. So this is Ephesus, for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

And when some were hardened and did not believe but spoke evil of the way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, you know, from the Jews at the synagogue, and and he took the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. So probably he rented a school hall, like quite often we do something similar today. And in verse 10, and this continued for two years so that all the dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

So he stayed in Ephesus. So I'm going to share this screen, just this map, so it's very clear. He stayed here for about two years and maybe three months. So two years at the school of, as it says, of Tyrannus. So from there he built quite a basis in Ephesus, which by the way, became a basis for the church, Ephesus. And we have the letter of Ephesians, and we know, for instance, about the book of Revelation. You may recall that John was in the Isle of Patmos, and John the Apostle in the years 90. This was after the destruction of temple. This area became, let's call it, the headquarters church. So after the destruction of the temple in 1870, this became like the center where the church was run from in those years after 1870. So that's where the Apostle John was based around that area, where he wrote the book of John, the Apostle John, as well as the three epistles, 1st John's 1st, 2nd and 3rd John. And we're around that area from Patmos, and then in that area where the book of Revelation was revealed to him. So it's just interesting that Ephesus then became quite a center of the New Testament church.

So let's get out of that map. So while he was there in Ephesus, Paul wrote 1st Corinthians.

So we went through 1st Corinthians, and so he was there. He probably wrote 1st Corinthians in the mid-50s. So let's say AD 55. Now let's look at 1st Corinthians chapter 5. 1st Corinthians chapter 5. 1st Corinthians chapter 5. And we're gonna read verse 9, because that's when he became, he came to know and he describes that in 1st Corinthians chapter 5 verse 9, that he says, I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company of sexually immoral people. So we can see from 1st Corinthians 5 verse 9 that he had written to the Corinthian brethren before he wrote the letter which is recorded in the Bible, the New Testament, as 1st Corinthians. So he had written other letters. So, and while he was there, he got to know about the situation with sexual immorality before he wrote 1st Corinthians. And then while he was in Ephesus, he got further reports of divisions. You read in 1st Corinthians 1 verse 11. 1st Corinthians 1 verse 11.

It says, For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions or divisions or quarrels amongst you. So there were divisions in amongst the brethren. And we also read in 1st Corinthians 7, chapter 7, verse 1. 1st Corinthians chapter 7 verse 1. This is not concerning the things of which he wrote to me. So we can see that the Corinthian Brethren had also written to Paul asking for clarification on certain issues regarding marriage, because that's what he says. The things that he wrote to me. And then he discusses various things, as we know, in 1st Corinthians chapter 7 about marriage. And so the response to all these points, questions of adultery and questions of marriage, and also other problems and divisions that existed or were occurring in Corinthians, that became the letter of 1st Corinthians, which, as we know, was a rather corrective letter, or as some people call it, a severe letter. It was sent with titers, as far as we can understand, was sent with titers to Corinth. We read that in 2nd Corinthians chapter 7. 2nd Corinthians chapter 7 verse 13 through 16. He says, therefore we have been comforted in your comfort, and we rejoice the exceedingly more for the joy of titers, because of his Spirit has been refreshed by you all.

So he had sent his letter of titers, and then he had received, he had met titers, coming back with news about the result or the outcome of that letter. All right, so Paul, as we can read also in 1st Corinthians 16 verse 8. 1st Corinthians 16 verse 8. He says, but I'll tar a tarry, or I'll delay, I'll stay in Ephesus until Pentecost. So he wanted to stay there until Pentecost.

And bigger part. And Paul also had sent Timothy to Corinth, because he says in 1st Corinthians 16 verse 10. I mean, he had sent Timothy to Macedonian, and then to go to Corinth as well, because he says, and if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I do also. So Timothy sent him, and if he comes, or when he comes, if he comes, what he says then, you know, receiving, but so he may be with you without fear. I explained that in the previous study, that Timothy was a kind of a soft-hearted type person, not a strong person. That's why he sent that strong letter with Titus. So let's also read in Acts 19 verse 22. Acts 19 verse 22. It's talking young, and he says, so he went into Macedonia, two of those ministers, to him Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a while. So this also confirms that he had sent Timothy to that area, to Macedonia, and then to Achaia, where Corinth is.

But in parallel, Paul received some disturbing news, and the disturbing news may be received those through letters or whichever way, maybe through Timothy, that there were some self-styled false apostles in Corinth. If we look at 2 Corinthians chapter 11, 2 Corinthians chapter 11, he then addresses those false apostles, because he read the 2 Corinthians chapter 11, and then he talks there about if some comes to you and preaches another Jesus, that's 2 Corinthians 7 verse 4, having a different gospel or a different spirit, and I fear that you may put up with it, that you may accept them and loud. And then he says in verse 5, where I consider I'm not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles, you know, it's these false apostles. I'm not inferior. So he must have received some disturbing news, because he includes that in this letter. And these were people that were trying to get a platform, and to get a platform, they were beginning to attack Paul's character. That's why Paul starts having this section here in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, starting from verse 16, which in my Bible is got a little heading called reluctant boasting. So his defending is character. But these people started attacking Paul's character, and they spoke against him.

And these false apostles had to convince people, or the brethren, to turn from Paul to them, and so that they would succeed preaching this wrong doctrine. And by the way, brethren, that's always Satan's approach. He uses some little thing that is a discontent, some discontentment, or something that is a little bit of unhappiness. And then he uses that and starts... that becomes disheartening or discouraging to some people, and then starts creating doubts. And then he divides, because it's all about divide and conquer. So starts with, you know, that's what they call the four D's, discontent, disheartening or discouragement, doubts in the vision. And that's always Satan's tactics, and we've got to be careful of that, brethren. So then let's go on and read in Acts 19, Acts 19 verse 23. Acts 19 verse 23. And we see that there was a person in Ephesus called Demetrius that sparked some riots. So Acts 19 verse 23. And about that time rose a great commotion about the way. A certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who had made silver shrines of Diana, false, called this Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. So this was a big business opportunity for this silversmith making these little idols of Diana. And so he was quite upset, because people were turning away from worshiping Diana. And therefore, his business was going down the hill. So, whoa, you know, I've got to do something. So he called them together with the workers of similar occupation and said, man, do you know that we have our prosperity by this trade? Hey, we make big business from this false goddess Diana. Verse 26, Moreover, you see in here that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods, which are made with hands. And so our business is going down. And so, verse 27, so not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed. Well, that's the emotional part. The real point is back pocket, the back pocket, the prophets. So he says, well, and therefore the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship. And now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, greatest Diana of the Ephesians. And so the whole city was filled with confusion and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul traveled companions. And when Paul wanted to go into the people, the disciples were not allowing.

Verse 31, then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, Paul's friends, sent to him, to Paul, pleading that he, Paul, would not venture into the theater. And verse 32, some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. So this was just a mad riot, and the people in the end didn't even know what it was all about, but they're just going mad. And so, and we read then in chapter 20, verse 1, it says, after the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and he parted to go to Macedonia.

So he departed to go to Macedonia from Ephesus. So as we look again at this map that I'm sharing with you, from there he departed to go to Macedonia, which is here, but he went through Troas. All right, so let's continue reading. In 2 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 12 to 13. Second Corinthians chapter 2, verse 12 and 13. And he says, furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, I had no rest in spirit, because I did not fight Titus, my brother.

But taking my leave of them, I departed from Macedonia. So he went to Troas. He couldn't find Titus there. He wanted to get news about his first letter, the so-called severe letter, or the corrective letter, 1 Corinthians. He wanted to know how the brethren were. He was concerned about them, and he was hoping and praying that he had received it with repentance.

And so he wanted to get news from Titus, but Titus wasn't there. So he proceeded to Macedonia. That's what we read in verse 12 and 13. So now we jump to 2 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 5 through 7. 2 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 5 through 7. Now, for indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside we conflicts, inside we fears. Nevertheless, God who comforts the downcast comforted us by the coming of Titus.

So finally he got to here from Titus, and actually saw him, and he got the news from Titus about how his first letter to the Corinthians had been received. And he says, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with each, he was comforted in you. In New Corinthians, because you repented.

When he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. When he told us that they had mourned, they had repented, that they desired to serve God, and of their zeal for Christ, he rejoiced even more. You see, so they had repented, and Paul was very, very happy. But he was not a fool. He was wise enough to understand that some rebellious attitudes still continued. You know, I mean, not everybody repented. There were still some that still continued those attitudes. So we therefore, yes, and we think that he wrote 2 Corinthians from probably Philippi, from right here, where he was, where he met Titus, he got this information, and then he wrote to the Corinthians this letter.

I beg your pardon. So let's get a little bit of support to that in 2 Corinthians 11 verse 9. 2 Corinthians 11 verse 9, it says, And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one. For what I lacked, the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied, and everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. So he's talking about that the brethren that came from Macedonia.

And also in Philippians chapter 4, Philippians chapter 4 verse 15, Philippians chapter 4 verse 15, he says, Now you, Philippians, know also that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. So the Philippians were a group of people that helped him, that supported him, and he was very grateful for that.

Also in 2 Corinthians chapter 9, 2 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 2, Philippians chapter 9 verse 2, it says, But I, for I know your willingness, about which are boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago, and your zeal has stirred up the majority. So I know your willingness, which are boast to you to the Macedonians, in other words, those in Macedon in Philippi, are boast you, and that is boasting to the Macedonians in the present tense. Therefore, he probably wrote from there. And then he does say that he intends to visit Corinthians soon. You read that in 2 Corinthians chapter 13, 2 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 2, and he says, I've told you before and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent, I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare.

So he says, he's coming again. If I come again, I'll not spare. So he wants the rest that have not repented to repent, but he does imply that that is coming shortly.

So that gives you a little bit of historical background of 2 Corinthians, where it was written from. And looking at 2 Corinthians as a book, you could say that it's organizing to three major sections. 2 Corinthians from chapter one to chapter seven, that first section, is more related to Paul defending his apostolic authority. Then verse chapter eight and nine, he's preparing those Corinthian brethren for a collection of fruit and other things to help the Jerusalem brethren.

You saw that also mentioned. I made reference to it in the last study. In 1 Corinthians 16, verse one and two, it says, now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatians, so you must do also. And so he says, you collect, you take this gathering. On the first day of work, you do this collection, start collecting so that when I'm there, I may then, and when I return back to Jerusalem, I may take to the poor people in Jerusalem brethren. So the organization is chapter one through seven. Basically, this defending is the apostolic authority. Chapter eight and nine, he's preparing the brethren for the collection to help the poor Jerusalem brethren. And chapter ten to the end, to 13 of second Corinthians, he is confronting or addressing these false prophets. So he's actually addressing that issue of false prophets. The actual purpose of this epistle of second Corinthians is in first place to commend for their obedience and for them to show love to that offender that had repented. And you can see that in second Corinthians chapter two, verse six through eight. It says, the punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that on the contrary, you outroder now to forgive and comfort him lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore, I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

So that's one of the purposes. Another purpose, as I mentioned, is to urge the collection. I went through those sections in second Corinthians chapter eight. It says in verse one, Moreover, brethren, we might not to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of mastowne, that in a great trial of affliction, the banners of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the reaches of their liberality, for our bare witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imposing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministry of the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and that was to the world of God. So he's encouraging them to do the same thing. And we can see that as we continue reading verse six. So we urge starters that as he has begun, so you'd also complete his grace in you as well, that same grace of collecting the gifts for the those giving and ministering that gift. You also see that in chapter nine, 2 Corinthians chapter nine verse one and two, now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you, for I know your willingness, about which are most of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago and Yozil has stirred up the majority. So you were prepared to do that a year ago and now Yozil is even more so. So he's encouraging them to keep up. And as we can see in Romans 15, Romans 15 verse 25, Romans 15 verse 25 and 26, he says, but now I'm going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints, for it please those from Macedonian and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor amongst the saints who are in Jerusalem. So they did get that contribution from Macedonian and from Achaia, which is the region of Corinth. So that was completed during his three-month visit to Corinth.

And thirdly, the purpose, as I mentioned, the first one is to commend the obedience in Laphda Uvenda. The second was to urge the collection for the saints. And the third was to show that false prophets were causing disunity. Look at 2 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 17.

2 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 17. For we are not so many peddling the Word of God. So we're not peddling the Word of God like these false prophets, but of sincerity, but as from God, as we speak in the sight of God in Christ. And then also in 2 Corinthians 11, 2 Corinthians 11, 7 Corinthians 11 verse 1 through 5. He says, all that you would bear with me, a little folly. And he says, for I'm jealous for you with great jealousy. And then he says, for I fear, verse 3, let somehow as the serpent deceived even eat by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted by the simplicities in Christ, because of these false prophets. They were false teachings. And then look at also verse 13 through 15 of 2 Corinthians 11 verse 13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves in the apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. So it is in the purpose of this letter, a third purpose of this letter, is to warn them about these false prophets causing disunity. And so basically, putting it into a simple theme for the second Corinthians. Maybe second Corinthians chapter 12 verse 15 describes what this epistle is all about. It says, and I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls. Though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. So it is an epistle about the apostles love and the apostles relationship with a church which was having some troubles. And therefore is a story of unreturned love. All right, let's therefore now start after giving this background of second Corinthians and giving you perspective from a timing and structure and a purpose. Let's start reading in chapter 1 verse 1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. Now look at what he's saying because remember he's going to combat these false apostles, false ministers. So he says, Paul, I am an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. I didn't appoint myself, it is God that appointed me. I'm not a self-appointed apostle, no, but I was promoted to this position by God. You read that Psalm 75 verse 6 and 7 says promotion doesn't come from the east and the west and the south, but comes from the north, comes from God. Promotion comes from God. And then it continues here in verse 1. And Timothy our brother. Now it's interesting that he calls Timothy his brother. Now Paul calls Timothy a brother when he's writing to the churches. Paul calls Timothy a son when he's writing directly to Timothy. You see, when you read 1st Timothy chapter 1 verse 2, 1st Timothy chapter 1 verse 2, he says, to Timothy a true son in the faith. And when you read 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 1, yeah, 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 1, it says, and therefore my son, the strong, the be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. So he calls Timothy a brother when he writes to the church. He calls Timothy a son when writing to him personally. It's also to note that Timothy was of Paul at the very foundation of the church in Corinth. You read in Acts 18 1 through 5, we can see that Timothy was right there from the beginning. But continue now in 2nd Corinthians chapter 1 verse 1. He says, to the church of God. So yeah, I see the name of the church is the church of God, which is at Corinth.

With all the saints who are in all the Kaia or Kaia now, with all the saints.

Interesting that the saints are living people, right? It's not dead people who have made saints after years like some churches define. He's saying the saints, they are living now, who are in all the Kaia. So the saints are living people. And then continues in verse 2. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This is his normal typical introduction to all his epistles. Basically says, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. And then from verse 3 to verse 7, he describes what I would call God's nature. By that I mean God's nature of mercy, of encouragement, of comfort. God is a God of mercies, is a God of comfort. That is God's nature. Let's read verse 3.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort.

God is the Father of mercies. That Greek word, Greek 3628, in Feiyyas' definition, means compassion, mercy, bowels of compassion, a heart of compassion, emotion, longings, manifestations of peace. And so God is a God of mercy. God the Father, in fact, we know, is on the mercy seat. It's a throne of mercy. Of course, it's also the judgment seat, but the interesting point is the mercy seat is on top of their ark, and inside the ark is a law. So the mercy is above. The mercy is greater. It's what God is. It's his nature. And then he says, of all comfort, the word is the Greek word 3874, paraklesis, which is similar to John 1426, which is, says our help, parakletas, which is the Holy Spirit referring to the Holy Spirit. So this comfort, this paraklesis, is the one that comes alongside to comfort. It's the one that's next to you to comfort, like when some people are going through trials, and one way to comfort is found them, keep in touch with them, maybe visit them. Maybe they have a need for some food, take them some food, maybe go there and clean up the house, help them clean up, whatever. That's comforting. And in Philippians chapter 2 verse 1, Philippians chapter 2 verse 1, says, therefore if if there is any consolation or comfort in Christ, there may be a consolation in Christ, or if any comfort of love, if any affection of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, we like minded as Christ. And so, yeah, we have also, referring to Christ, that Christ is God who comforts. Now, continuing in verse 4, and he says, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. And so, this word tribulation, yeah, in verse 4, this word tribulation, Greek word 2347, is related to a crushing pressure. There's someone that is under crushing pressure. It's just so much pressure. And Paul understood that, because there were people trying to undermine him, trying to crush him. And so, when we are under pressure, we need to to encourage us, because it says, yeah, comfort is not an end by itself that God comforts us, but it says, in verse 4, it says, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those that are in trouble. When we are comforted by God, we learn to comfort others. So, comfort from God is not an end itself, but it is for us to comfort others. Well, this is where I'm going to stop today. I'm going to talk a little bit more about that next time. But anyway, brethren, you have all a good evening.