(2) (a) Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of (b) mercies, and the God of all comfort;
(2) He begins after this manner with thanksgiving, which nonetheless (otherwise than he was accustomed to) he applies to himself: beginning his epistle with the setting forth of the dignity of his apostleship, forced (as it should seem) by their importunity which took an occasion to despise him, by reason of his miseries. But he answers, that he is not so afflicted but that his comforts do exceed his afflictions, showing the ground of them, even the mercy of God the Father in Jesus Christ.
(a) To him be praise and glory given.
(b) Most merciful.