2 Corinthians 1

Greeting

1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and from Timothy our brother.To God’s church in the city of Corinth and to all God’s holy people everywhere in Greece.2 Good willt and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!

God Comforts Paul and the Corinthians

3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father who is compassionate and the God who gives comfort.4 He comforts us whenever we suffer. That is why whenever other people suffer, we are able to comfort them by using the same comfort we have received from God.5 Because Christ suffered so much for us, we can receive so much comfort from him.6 Besides, if we suffer, it brings you comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, we can effectively comfort you when you endure the same sufferings that we endure.

7 We have confidence in you. We know that as you share our sufferings, you also share our comfort.

God Rescued Paul When He Was Suffering

8 Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be ignorant about the suffering we experienced in the province of Asia. It was so extreme that it was beyond our ability to endure. We even wondered if we could go on living.9 In fact, we still feel as if we’re under a death sentence. But we suffered so that we would stop trusting ourselves and learn to trust God, who brings the dead back to life.10 He has rescued us from a terrible death, and he will rescue us in the future. We are confident that he will continue to rescue us,

11 since you are also joining to help us when you pray for us. Then many people will thank God for the favor he will show us because many people prayed for us.

Paul’s Reason for Being Proud

12 We are proud that our conscience is clear. We are proud of the way that we have lived in this world. We have lived with a God-given holinesst and sincerity, especially toward you. It was not by human wisdom that we have lived but by God’s kindness.t13 We are only writing you what you already knew before you read this. I hope you will understand this as long as you live,

14 even though you now understand it only partially. We are your reason to be proud, as you will be our reason to be proud on the day of our Lord Jesus.

Why Paul Changed His Plans

15 Confident of this, I had previously wanted to visit you so that you could benefit twice.

16 My plans had been to go from the city of Corinth to the province of Macedonia. Then from Macedonia I had planned to return to you again in Corinth and have you support my trip to Judea.
17 You don’t think that I made these plans lightly, do you? Do you think that when I make plans, I make them in a sinful way? Why would I say that something is true when it isn’t?18 You can depend on God. Our message to you isn’t false; it’s true.19 God’s Son, Jesus Christ, whom I, Silvanus, and Timothy told you about, was true not false. Because of him our message was always true.

20 Certainly, Christ made God’s many promises come true. For that reason, because of our message, people also honor God by saying, “Amen!”
21 God establishes us, together with you, in a relationship with Christ. He has also anointed us.

22 In addition, he has put his seal of ownership on us and has given us the Spirit as his guarantee.
23 I appeal to God as a witness on my behalf, that I stayed away from Corinth because I wanted to spare you.

24 It isn’t that we want to have control over your Christian faith. Rather, we want to work with you so that you will be happy. Certainly, you are firmly established in the Christian faith.

2 Corinthians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;4 who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ.6 But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:7 and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort.8 For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life:9 yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead:10 who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;11 ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf.12 For our glorifying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.13 For we write no other things unto you, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge unto the end:14 as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.15 And in this confidence I was minded to come first unto you, that ye might have a second benefit;16 and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto Judaea.17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I show fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay?18 But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay.19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea.20 For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us.21 Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;22 who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.23 But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.24 Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in faith ye stand fast.