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Instead of his standard thanksgiving form, Paul offers a eulogy blessing God. Clearly the most prominent idea in 1:3-7 is comfort, referring to God’s deliverance of Paul from some unspecified suffering and troubles. His experience of suffering and deliverance points to his participation (koinonia, 1:7) in the death and resurrection of Christ. His suffering in the fulfillment of his mission vicariously benefits the Corinthians as did Christ’s suffering, bringing them comfort and salvation (v.6). Paul’s hopes for them remain undiminished (v.7); but God, not they, is the source of his comfort (vv.3-5).