2 Corinthians 1:11

11 And you can help us with your prayers. Then many people will give thanks for us -- that God blessed us because of their many prayers.

2 Corinthians 1:11 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 1:11

You also helping together by prayer for us
Though the apostle ascribes their deliverance solely to God, as the author and efficient cause of it; yet he takes notice of the prayers of the saints for them, as helping causes or means of their obtaining it. It was a very laudable practice in the churches, and worthy of imitation, to pray for the ministers of the Gospel, and especially when under affliction and persecution; see ( Acts 12:5 ) , and the prayers of those righteous ones were heard by God, and often effectual for the deliverance of them, as they were in the present case: for

by the means of many persons,
who wrestled together in prayer with God,

the gift
of deliverance from so great a death, which the apostle looked upon as a wonderful mercy, (carisma) , "a free grace gift", was "bestowed upon" them, which was granted for this end,

that thanks may be given by many on our behalf;
which is but reasonable, and ought to be observed; for since many were concerned in asking for, and obtaining the mercy, they ought to join in thanksgiving for it: and the apostle's view in this is to stir them up to a joint acknowledgment of the deliverance with them, which better became them than to side with the false apostles in their charge against him.

2 Corinthians 1:11 In-Context

9 Truly, in our own hearts we believed we would die. But this happened so we would not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from the dead.

10 God saved us from these great dangers of death, and he will continue to save us. We have put our hope in him, and he will save us again.

11 And you can help us with your prayers. Then many people will give thanks for us -- that God blessed us because of their many prayers.

12 This is what we are proud of, and I can say it with a clear conscience: In everything we have done in the world, and especially with you, we have had an honest and sincere heart from God. We did this by God's grace, not by the kind of wisdom the world has.

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