What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 4:15? All this Paul has just rehearsed his sufferings (2 Corinthians 4:8–12) and his confidence in the resurrection (4:13–14). “All this” gathers up: • every hardship that presses him yet does not crush him (4:8), • the constant “carrying around the death of Jesus” so the life of Jesus may be revealed (4:10), • the certain hope that “He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us” (4:14, cf. Romans 8:11). Taken together, these experiences are not random; the Lord is deliberately weaving them into His redemptive plan, just as He promises to work “all things together for good” (Romans 8:28). is for your benefit The Corinthians—and by extension every believer—gain from Paul’s trials. God channels spiritual profit to the church through the apostle’s pain: • They receive teaching and encouragement when they watch him trust Christ under pressure (Philippians 1:12–14). • They are spared eternal loss as Paul warns them with his own scars (2 Corinthians 1:6; 12:15). • They learn that weakness is the very platform on which divine power rests (2 Corinthians 12:9). Suffering, then, is never wasted; it is freighted with blessing for God’s people. so that the grace that is extending to more and more people Grace is dynamic, ever–spreading like ripples on water. As Paul’s preaching continues despite affliction, more hear and believe (Acts 13:48–49; Colossians 1:6). Notice: • Grace reaches outward; it “extends,” refusing to stay confined to any one group (Acts 11:23). • Each new convert becomes another herald, multiplying the reach still further (2 Timothy 2:2). • The same grace that saves also sustains—Paul endures precisely because God’s grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). Growth of the gospel, therefore, is inseparably tied to God’s empowering grace. may cause thanksgiving to overflow When grace is received, gratitude erupts. The word “overflow” pictures a river rising above its banks: • Believers cannot help but “abound in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7). • Gifts of grace produce a chorus of praise that “overflows in many expressions of thanks to God” (2 Corinthians 9:12). • Even those who merely observe God’s work in others join the anthem, as the healed did around Jesus (Luke 17:15). Thanksgiving is not an add-on; it is grace’s natural fruit. to the glory of God The flood of gratitude has a destination: God’s glory. Scripture consistently ties every saving and sustaining act to this goal (Ephesians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 10:31). Here we see: • God magnifies Himself by rescuing sinners and carrying His servants through trials. • When thanks rise, they spotlight His character—His faithfulness, power, and mercy (Psalm 50:23). • The more people reached, the louder and broader the doxology (Revelation 7:9–12). Thus the entire sequence—from suffering, to grace, to gratitude—culminates in the public display of God’s worth. summary Paul’s hardships are neither pointless nor private. God designs them for the church’s good, uses them to spread His grace ever wider, ignites overflowing thanksgiving in redeemed hearts, and, above all, showcases His own glory. Seeing the chain in 2 Corinthians 4:15 encourages us to welcome whatever He allows, confident that every trial can serve the twin purposes of growing His family and amplifying His praise. |
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