01 Suffering, Comfort & Prayer: What Paul Teaches about Ministry (2 Corinthians 1:1-11)

Paul opens 2 Corinthians with a personal, almost vulnerable defense of his ministry and a rich picture of how God meets His people in suffering. 

In this episode, Krisan Marotta walks through 2 Corinthians 1:1–11, unpacking Paul’s troubled relationship with the Corinthian church, his claim to be a true apostle, and his confession that he despaired even of life itself. Along the way, we see how God’s comfort is not the removal of hardship, but the courage to endure it—and how that encouragement is meant to flow from one believer to another.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why understanding the history between Paul and the Corinthians is essential for reading 2 Corinthians
• How Paul’s use of “we” in this passage often refers specifically to himself and his ministry
• What it means for Paul to be an “apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” amid rejection and suspicion
• How 2 Corinthians 1:3–7 portrays God as the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort” in real affliction, not easy circumstances
• The way Paul’s sufferings and encouragement are for the Corinthians’ sake—and what that reveals about true Christian ministry
• How trials make the truths of the gospel move from ideas in our heads to convictions that shape our choices
• What Paul teaches about prayer: not as spiritual “credits” or force, but as an expression of shared trust in God and shared gratitude when He answers

After listening, you’ll come away with a clearer grasp of how 2 Corinthians 1:1–11 frames the whole letter: a rejected ambassador appealing to those he loves, inviting them to see his hardships—and their own—through the lens of God’s mercy. You’ll be encouraged to think more carefully about how God uses suffering to mature faith, how your own encouragement can strengthen others, and how prayer binds believers together before the Father who raises the dead.

2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts

Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity launches January 9. Pre-order your copy now or buy it on launch day. Visit StartStrongBook.org for more details.  

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