Greeting

1 Paul, aan apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and bTimothy our brother,

To the church of God which is at Corinth, cwith all the saints who are in all Achaia:

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

Comfort in Suffering

3 eBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who fcomforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any 1trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as gthe sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our 2consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, hit is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that ias you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

Delivered from Suffering

8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of jour 3trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should knot trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 lwho delivered us from so great a death, and 4does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also mhelping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on 5our behalf nfor the gift granted to us through many.

Paul’s Sincerity

12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in 6simplicity and ogodly sincerity, pnot with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. 13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end 14 (as also you have understood us in part), qthat we are your boast as ryou also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Sparing the Church

15 And in this confidence sI intended to come to you before, that you might have ta second benefit—16 to pass by way of you to Macedonia, uto come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea. 17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan vaccording to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? 18 But as God is wfaithful, our 7word to you was not Yes and No. 19 For xthe Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, ySilvanus, and zTimothy—was not Yes and No, abut in Him was Yes. 20 bFor all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and chas anointed us is God, 22 who dalso has sealed us and egiven us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

23 Moreover fI call God as witness against my soul, gthat to spare you I came no more to Corinth. 24 Not hthat we 8have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for iby faith you stand.