II Corinthians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:”
In the I Corinthians Epistle, Paul used His Apostolic authority to identify at least nineteen errors in “the church of God which is at Corinth” and gave them instructions for correction. Such instruction can be painful and discouraging. So, in his II Corinthians Epistle, Paul encourages and consoles “the church” by directing their attention to the “God which raiseth the dead” (II Corinthians 1:9). The Epistle was originally also sent to “all the saints which are in all Achaia”, which was a fairly large portion of southern Greece. In the I Corinthians Epistle, he addressed them as “them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” (II Corinthians 1:2). He also addresses “Timothy” as “our brother”. The tone is highly pastoral, in which he lovingly feeds the flock with both admonition and consolation always exhorting them to focus upon “Jesus Christ”, Who gave him his Apostolic authority. Our Lord, “chief Shepherd” (I Peter 5:4), has preserved these Epistles through the ravages of time and opposition; for, even to us, they are “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Timothy 3:16). Above all things our obedience to our Lord is the first evidence that we “love” Him (John14:15). It is “the church of God”; meaning it is His “Church”, and He has every right to specify her conduct, behavior of her members, her practices of worship, and the doctrine that is preached and taught in her. We do not have the liberty to alter what God has prescribed (Commanded) in any way (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:19); we must never add to or diminish the Word of God or its application. True joy and happiness, even in the midst of life’s storms, are given to those who are “willing and obedient” (Isaiah 1:19)!