Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.

and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always,'so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death;

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church;

So

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,

General references

In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.