2 Corinthians 1

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, and Timothy our brother:
To God's church at Corinth, with all the saints who are throughout Achaia.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The God of Comfort

3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so through Christ our comfort also overflows. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in [your] endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.

7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so [you will share] in the comfort.
8 For we don't want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in Asia: we were completely overwhelmed-beyond our strength-so that we even despaired of life. 9 Indeed, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a terrible death, and He will deliver us. We have put our hope in Him that He will deliver us again

11 while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gift that came to us through [the prayers of] many.

A Clear Conscience

12 For this is our confidence: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom but by God's grace. 13 Now we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely-

14 as you have partially understood us-that we are your reason for pride, as you are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

A Visit Postponed

15 I planned with this confidence to come to you first, so you could have a double benefit, 16 and to go on to Macedonia with your help, then come to you again from Macedonia and be given a start by you on my journey to Judea. 17 So when I planned this, was I irresponsible? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human way so that I say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" [simultaneously]? 18 As God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes and no." 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us-by me and Silvanus and Timothy-did not become "Yes and no"; on the contrary, [a final] "Yes" has come in Him. 20 For every one of God's promises is "Yes" in Him. Therefore, the "Amen" is also [spoken] through Him by us for God's glory. 21 Now it is God who strengthens us, with you, in Christ and has anointed us.

22 He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts.
23 I call on God as a witness, on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth. 24 [I do not mean] that we have control of your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand by 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.