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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort…” (2 Corinthians 1.3). For purposes of our discussion today, we will focus on just the word comfort. For now, suffice it to say that God has a significant role to play when it comes to comfort. Note also that the comfort which God offers is linked to His merciful nature. He feels (that’s mercy) and He acts (that’s comfort). These two characteristics go hand in hand to enable us to call Him, “Blessed!”

In our study today, we will take a look at the Greek word translated frequently by some form of the word comfort. In addition, we will look at the English word comfort and attempt to dig out a small portion of the treasures that are buried in it. In our focus text, the Greek word translated comfort is a compound word, i.e. It is formed by joining two distinct words into one word. The first of these words would be anglicized as para. Words of this same form are found frequently in the English language; examples would be paralegal, parallel, and paramedic. In each of these examples, the prefix para means along side, or beside. The paralegal works alongside a lawyer, the paramedic works beside the doctor, and parallel lines run alongside one another. The second of the Greek words that form the compound word translated comfort is a form of the word kaleo. It literally means to call or summon. Hence, taken together, the Greek word for comfort is para + kaleo; it is to summon someone to my side, or to call someone alongside for the purpose of assisting with a task. God is the God that can be called to one's side. He is our helper and defender. He is the God of ALL comfort!

Taking a look at the English word comfort yields yet another nugget of truth and beauty. Somewhat like the Greek word just mentioned, comfort is a word formed by adding a prefix to a root word. The prefix is com and the root word is fort. The prefix com (same as con in many places) means with or together. Illustrations of this type of usage are seen in the words compact, convene, compress, and combine. Thus we can see that the prefix in comfort corresponds with the first word in para + kaleo. It means with, beside, together, etc. Continuing with the word comfort, we now will look at the root word fort. This one is not difficult to understand at all. In fact, we have an English word which precisely conveys the meaning of this root word. Armies build them and use them to protect and defend others. The west used to be full of them. They have existed in every major military conflict. Forts are places that are fortified! They are strongholds; they imply the concept of strength and fortitude! Hence, comfort in the English literally means that someone comes alongside another in order to strengthen and fortify him/her. One can easily see the parallel between the word para + kaleo and the word com + fort. They each mean to come alongside another for the purpose of helping, defending, or strengthening.

Now, consider again the statement that Paul made when he affirmed that God is the God of all comfort. He is the One who comes alongside in order to help, defend, and strengthen. When we read passages such as Acts 7.9 which states that “God was with him [Joseph],” or Acts 10.38 which states that “God was with Him [Jesus],” they take on a new meaning. When David was about to face Goliath, he said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17.37). David did not face these enemies alone; God was there beside him in the role of comforter and defender!

That very same God is our comforter; He can be summoned to our side whenever and wherever we feel the need. Why? Because our God is the God of all comfort!

Questions:

1. How are mercy and comfort linked together in everyday life?

2. Research Question: Besides God the Father, who else is referred to as a comforter in the New Testament?

3. What is the implication of the root word fort in the word comfort?

4. To whom did David ascribe his greatest victories? Where was God when David defeated the lion, the bear, and Goliath? Where is God when we win life's most difficult battles? Do we thank Him when we win a great (or small) battle? Why or why not?

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

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