Comfort (Hastings' Dictionary)

The state of relief from trouble, or the means of solace. In OT the evils to which the consolations of God are most characteristically opposed are the calamities of the chosen people, while in NT the divine comfort ia mainly represented as enabling the individual Chris- tian to endure, and even to rejoice under, the natural ills of liuman life and the persecutions to which the faithful are subjected. As the sources of comfort • In AV, ■ritfiKKnris is tr.

' consolation ' in Lk 2^ 6^, Ac 49« 1531 (,n. • exliorlation 0, Ro 165, 2 Co I'' 6- ' T-" 7', Ph 21, 2 Tb 216 I'hilem', He m ; 'comforf in Ac 931, Ko \b, 2 Co Vi V- " ; • exhortation ■ in Ac 13l\ Ro 12», 1 Co 14', 2 Co 8", 1 Th 23, 1 Ti 413, He 121 1322 ; and ' intreaty ' in 2 Co S<. RV changes 'consolation' into 'comfort,' except in Lk 2^5 6»*, Ac lj3l, He 618 (encouragement), Ac 43<> (' exhortation,' m.

' consolation '), and, except in 1 Co 148, keeps exhortation ' where AV haa it (Ro 128 'exhorting'!. (JOMFOKTEi: COMMON 459 are mentioned the word of Go<l (Ps 1 19"), the loving- kindness of God (Ps 119"), the Holy Ghost (Ac 9»'). the lellowship and synniathy of Christ (2 Co 1", Ph 2' ), God the Father (2 Co H).

The OT comfort of the individual is, in the main, hope in tlie eventual manifestation of the retrihutive justice of God ; of the nation, the prophetic promise of the deliverance, purification, and exaltation of Israel.

The NT doctrine specially emphasizes aa comfort {a) uiiuer sorrow for sin, that it works repentance (2 Co 7'"); (6) under alliiction, that it is a paternal discipline, a token of the divine love, designed to purity the character of the suli'erer (He 12), and to (qualify for ministration (2 Co 1*) ; while, generally, it con- trasts the present sufferings, as temporary and Kght, with the future joys of the redeemed, as eternal and weighty (2 Co 4").

The divine com- forts are strong (He 6"), all-embracing (2 Co P), and everlasting (2 Th 2"). See Paraclete. W. P. Pateiison.