2 Corinthians 1:5 - Exposition

As the sufferings of Christ abound in us; rather, unto us . "The sufferings of Christ" are the sufferings which he endured in the days of his flesh, and they were not exhausted by him, but overflow to us who have to suffer as he suffered, bearing about with us his dying, that we may share his life ( 2 Corinthians 4:10 ). The idea is, not that he is suffering in us and with us, but that we have "a fellowship in his sufferings" ( Philippians 3:17 ); Galatians 2:20 , "I have been crucified with Christ;" Hebrews 13:13 , "Bearing his reproach." Our sufferings are the sufferings of Christ because we suffer as he suffered ( 1 Peter 4:13 ) and in the same cause. Aboundeth by Christ. If his sufferings, as it were, overflow to us, so too is he the Source of our comfort, in that he sendeth us the Comforter ( John 14:16-18 ).