Verse Lens · Concise explanation
2 Corinthians 1:3 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 3. 3Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse blesses God as Father of mercies and God of all comfort.
Read It With
- 2 Corinthians 1:3–11
Read 2 Corinthians 1:3 with 1:3–11. This verse blesses God as Father of mercies and God of all comfort. The complete unit establishes this movement: God meets Paul and his coworkers in affliction so received comfort can serve others; an ordeal beyond strength displaced self-reliance with resurrection trust, while the Corinthians share through prayer.
Why This Verse Appears Here
Mutual dependence and resurrection power prepare the Corinthians to reinterpret Paul's weakness. Within that movement, this verse blesses God as Father of mercies and God of all comfort.
Read 2 Corinthians 1:3–11 together
Why these verses belong together: Comfort, affliction, resurrection trust, prayer, and thanksgiving form one blessing-testimony.
Verse 3. 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Verse 4. 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Verse 5. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
Verse 6. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
Verse 7. 7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
Verse 8. 8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
Verse 9. 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
Verse 10. 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
Verse 11. 11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the”
In plain language: Comfort originates in God's merciful character.
blesses God as Father of mercies and God of all comfort. Comfort originates in God's merciful character.
Why it matters: The wording identifies this verse's distinct contribution to the complete unit.
How certain? strongWhat Remains True
Comfort originates in God's merciful character.
How It Can Shape Life
- Begin care by naming mercy rather than explaining away pain.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read 2 Corinthians 1:3–11 — Comfort Received Becomes Comfort SharedSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 2 Corinthians 1:3–11, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and original-language discussion.
Exact location: SBLGNT official text file 2Co.txt, 1:3–11
Open the 2 Corinthians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible - 2 Corinthians with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005-2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level Greek, syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and interpretive alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible 2 Corinthians chapter print views, 1:3–11, including attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open NET 2 Corinthians 1 notes