<p>1:6<i> If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which works in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer- </i>It could be argued that <i>all</i> our experiences are in order that we might be able to give out to others from our own experience of God's grace (2 Cor. 1:4-6). Paul will use the same words to say that he &quot;begs&quot; s.w. &quot;comfort&quot; the Corinthians to &quot;comfort&quot; the disciplined brother by receiving him back (2 Cor. 2:7,8). Paul uses the same word to say that God was begging or comforting the Corinthians through him (2 Cor. 5:20; 6:1). &quot;The same sufferings&quot; doesn't necessarily mean that we shall have identical sufferings to each other. The sufferings in view are those of the Lord Jesus mentioned in :5. Both Paul and the Corinthians were enduring the same sufferings- in that all their sufferings were those of the Lord Jesus. But the comfort, the power of the Spirit, is only mediated if there is some desire for it by those receiving it. The Spirit &quot;comfort&quot; is made effective (Gk.; NEV &quot;which works&quot;) only if we patiently endure and participate in the Lord's sufferings. 1 Corinthians opened by stating that Corinth had received the Spirit; but 1 Cor. 3:1 and the rest of the letter is clear that they were &quot;not spiritual&quot;. The Spirit is given- but it must be made effectual, the potential must be released, by our willing acceptance of it.</p>