Consolation

 

There was much persecution in the early church. Believers identified with the suffering of Jesus, while at the same time, they identified with His resurrection. Their hope of resurrection was their consolation for the suffering they endured.

"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ...But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: [In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead]" - 2 Corinthians 1:5, 9 KJV

Paul suffered much for preaching the gospel, often risking his life, so that others might also have eternal life in Jesus. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28, 1 Corinthians 15:30-31).

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

“So then death worketh in us, but life in you." - 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 KJV

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." - Romans 8:18 KJV

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." - 1 Peter 4:12-14 KJV