1 This letter is from me, Paul. God chose me to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. Our Christian friend Timothy is here with me as I write.
I am sending this letter to you, the people of the church in Corinth city. I am sending it also to all of God's people who live in other places in Achaia.
2 I pray that God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ will continue to help you. I pray that they will give you peace in your minds.
3 We thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, because he is so good to us. As our Father, he is very kind to us. He is our God who comforts us in every way. 4 Whenever we have trouble, he comforts us. Because of that, we ourselves can comfort other people. When they have any kind of trouble, we can comfort them, in the same way that God has comforted us. 5 Christ himself received much pain, and God comforted him. As Christ's servants, we also receive the same kind of pain. But, God also comforts us very much, because we belong to Christ.
6 So, when we receive trouble, the result is that we can comfort you. And then also, God saves you. When God comforts us, that helps us to comfort you too. As a result, when you receive the same kinds of trouble that we receive, you learn to be patient and strong. 7 So we continue to be sure that you will remain strong. You receive many troubles, as we do too. But we know that God will also comfort you, as he comforts us.
8 Our Christian friends, we want you to know about the trouble that we had in Asia. Those troubles were very painful. We ourselves were not strong enough to continue. We even thought that we would die. 9 We ourselves thought that we would certainly die. We knew that we could not trust our own strength. We had to trust God. He is the one who causes dead people to rise up to new life. So we could trust him to make us strong. 10 We nearly died, but God saved us from that great danger. We know that we can continue to trust him. He will save us from any future danger. 11 We also know that you continue to help us as you pray for us. As many people pray for us, they will thank God when he answers their prayers. They will see that God is very kind to us, and they will thank him.
12 We can be proud of how we have lived in this world. We have been careful to be honest and good with everyone. And we have been like that with you even more. We are sure in our own minds that this is true. We have not tried to be clever in a human way. But we have lived in the way that God has helped us to live. 13 We are writing to you only about things that you yourselves can read and understand. And I hope that you will understand completely one day. 14 You do not understand us completely yet. But I hope that you will understand completely on the day when our Lord Jesus returns. Then you can be proud of us in the same way that we will be proud of you.
15-16 So, because I was sure that you trusted me, I wanted to visit you twice. Then I could bring God's help to you twice. I decided to visit you first on my way to Macedonia. [ a ] Then I would visit you again on my way back from Macedonia. After that, you could help to send me on my journey to Judea. [ b ] 17 I did not decide this in a careless way. I really wanted to do it. I do not decide to do things only to please myself, like someone who does not know God. I do not say ‘Yes,’ and then I immediately say ‘No’.
18 God always does what he says he will do. In the same way, my promise to you was not both ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. 19 Silas, Timothy and I told you the message about God's Son, Jesus Christ. Christ is not someone who changes his message between ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. Instead, he always says ‘Yes,’ and he does what he says. 20 Christ says ‘Yes’ to all of God's promises, so that they become true. So when we pray, we say ‘Yes, amen!,’ because we know that Christ has done it. And when we do that, we are saying that God is great.
21 It is God that causes us to continue to trust Christ. He does that for us and for you, because we belong to Christ. God has chosen us to serve him. 22 He has also put his mark on us, to show that we belong to him. He has given his Spirit to us, to live in us. Because of that, we know that we will receive all the good things that God has promised.
23 God will show that what I say is true! He knows my thoughts. Why did I decide not to come back to Corinth at this time? I did not come because I did not want to be angry with you. 24 We are not trying to tell you what you must believe, like masters would do. You are already strong in your spirits because you trust God. So we want to help you to be really happy.
1 Greetings from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am an apostle because that is what God wanted. Greetings also from Timothy our brother in Christ.
To God’s church in Corinth and to all of God’s holy people throughout Achaia.
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Father who is full of mercy, the God of all comfort. 4 He comforts us every time we have trouble so that when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us. 5 We share in the many sufferings of Christ. In the same way, much comfort comes to us through Christ. 6 If we have troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is so that we can comfort you. And this helps you patiently accept the same sufferings we have. 7 Our hope for you is strong. We know that you share in our sufferings. So we know that you also share in our comfort.
8 Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the trouble we suffered in Asia. We had great burdens there, which were greater than our own strength. We even gave up hope for life. 9 In fact, it seems like God has been telling us we are going to die. But this is so that we will not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from death. 10 He saved us from these great dangers of death, and he will continue to save us. We feel sure he will always save us. 11 And you can help us with your prayers. Then many people will give thanks for us—that God blessed us because of their many prayers.
12 This is what we are proud of, and I can say with a clear conscience that it is true: In everything we have done in the world, we have done it with an honest and pure heart from God. And this is even truer in what we have done with you. We did this by God’s grace, not by the kind of wisdom the world has. 13 We write to you only what you can read and understand. And I hope you will fully understand, 14 just as you already understand many things about us. I hope you will understand that you can be proud of us, just as we will be proud of you on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
15 I was very sure of all this. That is why I made plans to visit you first. Then you could be blessed twice. 16 I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and again on my way back. I wanted to get help from you for my trip to Judea. 17 Do you think that I made these plans without really thinking? Or maybe you think I make plans as the world does, saying yes and no at the same time.
18 But if you can believe God, then you can believe that what we tell you is never both yes and no. 19 The Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one that Silas, Timothy, and I told you about was not yes and no. In Christ it has always been yes. 20 The yes to all of God’s promises is in Christ. And that is why we say “Amen” through Christ to the glory of God. 21 And God is the one who makes you and us strong in Christ. God is also the one who chose us for his work. [ a ] 22 He put his mark on us to show that we are his. Yes, he put his Spirit in our hearts as the first payment that guarantees all that he will give us.
23 I tell you this, and I ask God to be my witness that this is true: The reason I did not come back to Corinth was that I did not want to punish or hurt you. 24 I don’t mean that we are trying to control your faith. You are strong in faith. But we are workers with you for your own happiness.
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
13 For we write none other things unto you, that what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.
15 And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.
17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
18 But as God is true, our word toward you was 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 Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
1 Paul, ( A ) an apostle of ( B ) Christ Jesus ( C ) by the will of God, and our brother ( D ) Timothy,
To ( E ) the church of God which is at ( F ) Corinth with all the [ a ] saints who are throughout ( G ) Achaia:
2 ( H ) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 ( I ) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and ( J ) God of all comfort, 4 who ( K ) comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in [ b ] any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just ( L ) as the sufferings of Christ are [ c ] ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is ( M ) for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that ( N ) as you are partners in our sufferings, so also you are in our comfort.
8 For ( O ) we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters , of our ( P ) affliction which occurred in [ d ] ( Q ) Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 [ e ] Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, 10 who ( R ) rescued us from so great a danger of death, and will rescue us , He [ f ] ( S ) on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, 11 if you also join in ( T ) helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by ( U ) many persons in our behalf for the favor granted to us through the prayers of many.
12 For our [ g ] proud confidence is this: the testimony of ( V ) our conscience, that in holiness and ( W ) godly sincerity, ( X ) not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. 13 For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand ( Y ) until the end; 14 just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, on ( Z ) the day of our Lord Jesus.
15 In this confidence I intended at first to ( AA ) come to you, so that you might [ h ] twice receive a [ i ] ( AB ) blessing; 16 [ j ] that is, to ( AC ) pass [ k ] your way into ( AD ) Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be ( AE ) helped on my journey to Judea. 17 Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I decide, do I decide ( AF ) according to the flesh, so that with me there will be [ l ] yes, yes and no, no at the same time ? 18 But as ( AG ) God is faithful, ( AH ) our word to you is not yes and no. 19 For ( AI ) the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and ( AJ ) Silvanus and ( AK ) Timothy—was not yes and no, but has been yes ( AL ) in Him. 20 For ( AM ) as many as the promises of God are, ( AN ) in Him they are yes; therefore through Him also is ( AO ) our Amen to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who ( AP ) establishes us with you in Christ and ( AQ ) anointed us is God, 22 who also ( AR ) sealed us and ( AS ) gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a [ m ] pledge.
23 But ( AT ) I call God as witness to my soul, that it was ( AU ) to spare you that I did not come again to ( AV ) Corinth. 24 Not that we ( AW ) domineer over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are ( AX ) standing firm.
1 Paul, an apostle ( A ) of Christ Jesus by the will of God, ( B ) and Timothy ( C ) our brother,
To the church of God ( D ) in Corinth, ( E ) together with all his holy people throughout Achaia: ( F )
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ( G )
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ( H ) the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us ( I ) in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, ( J ) so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; ( K ) if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, ( L ) so also you share in our comfort.
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, ( M ) brothers and sisters, [ a ] about the troubles we experienced ( N ) in the province of Asia. ( O ) We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, ( P ) who raises the dead. ( Q ) 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, ( R ) and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope ( S ) that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. ( T ) Then many will give thanks ( U ) on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience ( V ) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity [ b ] ( W ) and godly sincerity. ( X ) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom ( Y ) but on God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus. ( Z )
15 Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you ( AA ) first so that you might benefit twice. ( AB ) 16 I wanted to visit you on my way ( AC ) to Macedonia ( AD ) and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way ( AE ) to Judea. ( AF ) 17 Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner ( AG ) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?
18 But as surely as God is faithful, ( AH ) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, ( AI ) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas [ c ] ( AJ ) and Timothy ( AK ) —was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always ( AL ) been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises ( AM ) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” ( AN ) is spoken by us to the glory of God. ( AO ) 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm ( AP ) in Christ. He anointed ( AQ ) us, 22 set his seal ( AR ) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. ( AS )
23 I call God as my witness ( AT ) —and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you ( AU ) that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over ( AV ) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. ( AW )
