AFFLICTION AND HOPE (2 COR 1:8–11) IN THE NIGERIAN CONTEXT

In 2 Corinthians 1:8–11, Paul shares his experiences of affliction, specifically the great pressure he and his companions faced in Asia. But the God who raises the dead had delivered him from such a deadly peril. Affliction and hope provide two aspects of Paul’s life context and understanding of who God is amid troubles and hardships. The Nigerian understanding of affliction and hope resonates very much with Paul’s context. Afflictions are not relegated to the individual’s failure or God’s abandonment. Rather, there is a profound understanding and communal approach to affliction, hope, and God. This language is undoubtedly relatable to many Nigerians who have faced overwhelming challenges; hence, this text served as a source of hope, a fundamental aspect of human existence, providing a source of strength and endurance in difficult times. Reading the text hermeneutically and contextually, this paper seeks to explore Paul’s affliction and hope in 2 Corinthians 1:8–11 in the Nigerian context to articulate who God is in suffering and afflictions. The significance of this lies in the fact that the fruits of the exegesis will help to encourage Nigerians to dance to the music of affliction, knowing that their hope in God will lead them to a better future.