2 Corinthians 1:7 KJV
And our hope of you [is] steadfast,
knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings,
so [shall ye] be also of the consolation.
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Other translations
New International Version
And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
New Living Translation
We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.
English Standard Version
Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
Berean Study Bible
And our hope for you is sure, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.
Berean Literal Bible
And our hope for you is sure, knowing that as you are partners of our sufferings, so also of our comfort.
New King James Version
And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
New American Standard Bible
and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are partners in our sufferings, so also you are in our comfort.
And our hope of you is steadfast
- We have a firm and unshaken hope in regard to you;
- We have a confident expectation that you will be saved.
- We believe that you will be enabled so to bear trial as to show that you are sustained by the Christian hope; and so as to advance your own piety, and confirm your prospect of heaven.
The sentence is brought in as a kind of parenthesis connected with the word “enduring.” He had not used that word lightly, still less as a tacit reproach, as though they were wanting in endurance.
His hope for them, for their salvation in the fullest sense of the word, had never been stronger than it was at that moment.
Literally it reads: “And our hope is steadfast on your behalf”.
The variations of text and punctuation in the verse do not materially affect the sense.
The meaning is “And I have a sure hope that you will reap the benefits of our common fellowship with Christ in His affliction, and of the comfort which He sends, because I know that you have experienced the sufferings, and am therefore sure that He will send you the strength and the endurance.
The close connection of tribulation and Divine encouragement are found also in Matthew 5:4; 2 Timothy 2:12; and in 1 Peter 5:10.
The interchange of the two between teacher and taught is part of the true communion of saints (comp. Philippians 2:26).
Most editors agree in placing these words (And our hope of you is steadfast)
before ‘or whether we be comforted,’ etc.
It would seem to be their most natural place, for not only do they come awkwardly before the word ‘knowing,’ but the expression of the hope is more appropriate in reference to the endurance by the Corinthians of suffering than to their enjoyment of encouragement.
The majority of the best manuscripts are in favour of this arrangement of the sentence.
And ☆ καὶ (kai) ☆ Conjunction ☆ And, even, also, namely.
Our ☆ ἡμῶν (hēmōn) ☆ Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Genitive 1st Person Plural ☆ I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.
Hope ☆ ἐλπὶς (elpis) ☆ Noun – Nominative Feminine Singular ☆ Hope, expectation, trust, confidence. From a primary elpo; expectation or confidence.
For ☆ ὑπὲρ (hyper) ☆ Preposition ☆ Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.
You ☆ ὑμῶν (hymōn) ☆ Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Genitive 2nd Person Plural ☆ You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.
[is] sure ☆ βεβαία (bebaia) ☆ Adjective – Nominative Feminine Singular ☆ Firm, steadfast, enduring, sure, certain. From the base of basis; stable.
[because] we know ☆ εἰδότες (eidotes) ☆ Verb – Perfect Participle Active – Nominative Masculine Plural ☆ To know, remember, appreciate.
That ☆ ὅτι (hoti) ☆ Conjunction ☆ Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.
As ye are partakers of the sufferings
It is evident from this, that the Corinthians had been subjected to trials similar to those which the apostle had endured. It is not known to what afflictions they were then subjected; but it is not improbable that they were exposed to some kind of persecution and opposition.
Such trials were common in all the early churches; and they served to unite all the friends of the Redeemer in common bonds, and to make them feel that they were one.
- They had united sorrows;
- and they had united joys;
- and they felt they were tending to the same heaven of glory.
United sorrows and united consolations tend more than anything else to bind people together. We always have a “brotherly” feeling for one who suffers as we do; or who has the same kind of joy which we have.
Just as ☆ ὡς (hōs) ☆ Adverb ☆ Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.
Partakers
Partakers is literally, sharers. See 1 Corinthians 1:9.
Christians ‘had all things,’ even sufferings, in ‘common.’ (Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:46; 49; also Romans 8:17-23; 2 Corinthians 4:17).
You share ☆ κοινωνοί (koinōnoi) ☆ Noun – Nominative Masculine Plural ☆ A sharer, partner, companion. From koinos; a sharer, i.e. Associate.
In [our] ☆ τῶν (tōn) ☆ Article – Genitive Neuter Plural ☆ The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
Sufferings ☆ παθημάτων (pathēmatōn) ☆ Noun – Genitive Neuter Plural ☆ From a presumed derivative of pathos; something undergone, i.e. Hardship or pain; subjectively, an emotion or influence.
So shall ye be also of the consolation.
Better is: “so are ye also”.
The verb is not expressed in the Greek, but it is more natural to supply it in the tense which had been used before.
The English version practically dilutes the hope by throwing it into a future, which may be near or distant, instead of connecting it with the actual present.
The Apostle could not doubt for a moment, that they were at that very time, sharers in the comfort, as well as in the sufferings.
Shall ye be
The words ‘shall ye be’ are not in the original.
It would be better to supply ‘are,’ the encouragement being not a promise for the future, but a present possession.
Observe the way in which ye and you are used indiscriminately as the nominative in the edition of 1611 (Cf. also 2 Corinthians 1:13-14).
In the later editions ye has been substituted. The substitution commenced in 1661, and gradually made its way after that time. The rule that ye is used only “in questions, entreaties, and rhetorical appeals” (see Abbott’s Shakespearean Grammar, 236) does not seem to hold good here.
So ☆ οὕτως (houtōs) ☆ Adverb ☆ Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).
Also [you will share] ☆ καὶ (kai) ☆ Conjunction ☆ And, even, also, namely.
In [our] ☆ τῆς (tēs) ☆ Article – Genitive Feminine Singular ☆ The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
Comfort ☆ παρακλήσεως (paraklēseōs) ☆ Noun – Genitive Feminine Singular ☆ From parakaleo; imploration, hortation, solace.
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