< 2 Corinthians 1 >
1 This letter comes from Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the will of God, and from Timothy, our brother. It is sent to the church of God in Corinth, together with all of God's people throughout Achaia.
παυλος αποστολος ιησου χριστου δια θεληματος θεου και τιμοθεος ο αδελφος τη εκκλησια του θεου τη ουση εν κορινθω συν τοις αγιοις πασιν τοις ουσιν εν ολη τη αχαια
2 May you have grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος ημων και κυριου ιησου χριστου
3 Praise be to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the compassionate Father and the God of all comfort.
ευλογητος ο θεος και πατηρ του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου ο πατηρ των οικτιρμων και θεος πασης παρακλησεως
4 He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those who are also in trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
ο παρακαλων ημας επι παση τη θλιψει ημων εις το δυνασθαι ημας παρακαλειν τους εν παση θλιψει δια της παρακλησεως ης παρακαλουμεθα αυτοι υπο του θεου
5 The more we share in Christ's sufferings, the more we receive the abundant comfort of Christ.
οτι καθως περισσευει τα παθηματα του χριστου εις ημας ουτως δια χριστου περισσευει και η παρακλησις ημων
6 If we are in distress, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are being comforted, it is for your comfort, which results in you patiently bearing the same sufferings that we suffer.
ειτε δε θλιβομεθα υπερ της υμων παρακλησεως και σωτηριας της ενεργουμενης εν υπομονη των αυτων παθηματων ων και ημεις πασχομεν ειτε παρακαλουμεθα υπερ της υμων παρακλησεως και σωτηριας και η ελπις ημων βεβαια υπερ υμων
7 We have great confidence in you, knowing that as you share in our sufferings you also share in our comfort.
ειδοτες οτι ωσπερ κοινωνοι εστε των παθηματων ουτως και της παρακλησεως
8 Brothers and sisters, we won't keep you in the dark about the trouble we had in Asia. We were so overwhelmed that we were afraid we wouldn't have the strength to continue—so much so we doubted we would live through it.
ου γαρ θελομεν υμας αγνοειν αδελφοι υπερ της θλιψεως ημων της γενομενης ημιν εν τη ασια οτι καθ υπερβολην εβαρηθημεν υπερ δυναμιν ωστε εξαπορηθηναι ημας και του ζην
9 In fact it was like a death sentence inside us. This was to stop us relying on ourselves and to trust in God who raises the dead.
αλλα αυτοι εν εαυτοις το αποκριμα του θανατου εσχηκαμεν ινα μη πεποιθοτες ωμεν εφ εαυτοις αλλ επι τω θεω τω εγειροντι τους νεκρους
10 He saved us from a terrible death, and he will do so again. We have total confidence in God that he will continue to save us.
ος εκ τηλικουτου θανατου ερρυσατο ημας και ρυεται εις ον ηλπικαμεν οτι και ετι ρυσεται
11 You help us by praying for us. In this way many will thank God for us because of the blessing that God will give us in response to the prayers of many.
συνυπουργουντων και υμων υπερ ημων τη δεησει ινα εκ πολλων προσωπων το εις ημας χαρισμα δια πολλων ευχαριστηθη υπερ ημων
12 We take pride in the fact—and our conscience confirms it—that we have acted properly towards people, and especially to you. We have followed God's principles of holiness and sincerity, not according to worldly wisdom but through the grace of God.
η γαρ καυχησις ημων αυτη εστιν το μαρτυριον της συνειδησεως ημων οτι εν απλοτητι και ειλικρινεια θεου ουκ εν σοφια σαρκικη αλλ εν χαριτι θεου ανεστραφημεν εν τω κοσμω περισσοτερως δε προς υμας
13 For we are not writing anything complicated that you can't read and understand. I hope you'll understand in the end,
ου γαρ αλλα γραφομεν υμιν αλλ η α αναγινωσκετε η και επιγινωσκετε ελπιζω δε οτι και εως τελους επιγνωσεσθε
14 even if you only understand part of it now, so that when the Lord comes you will be proud of us, just as we are of you.
καθως και επεγνωτε ημας απο μερους οτι καυχημα υμων εσμεν καθαπερ και υμεις ημων εν τη ημερα του κυριου ιησου
15 Because I was so sure of your confidence in me I planned to come and visit you first. That way you could have benefited twice,
και ταυτη τη πεποιθησει εβουλομην προς υμας ελθειν προτερον ινα δευτεραν χαριν εχητε
16 as I would go on from you to Macedonia, and then return from Macedonia to you. Then I would have had you send me on my way to Judea.
και δι υμων διελθειν εις μακεδονιαν και παλιν απο μακεδονιας ελθειν προς υμας και υφ υμων προπεμφθηναι εις την ιουδαιαν
17 Why did I change my original plan? Do you think I make my decisions lightly? Do you think that when I plan I'm like some worldly person who says Yes and No at the same time?
τουτο ουν βουλευομενος μη τι αρα τη ελαφρια εχρησαμην η α βουλευομαι κατα σαρκα βουλευομαι ινα η παρ εμοι το ναι ναι και το ου ου
18 Just as God can be trusted, when we give you our word it's not both Yes and No.
πιστος δε ο θεος οτι ο λογος ημων ο προς υμας ουκ εγενετο ναι και ου
19 The truth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was announced to you by us—me, Silvanus, and Timothy—and it wasn't both Yes and No. In Christ the answer is absolutely Yes!
ο γαρ του θεου υιος ιησους χριστος ο εν υμιν δι ημων κηρυχθεις δι εμου και σιλουανου και τιμοθεου ουκ εγενετο ναι και ου αλλα ναι εν αυτω γεγονεν
20 However, many promises God has made, in Christ the answer is always Yes. Through him we respond, saying Yes to the glory of God.
οσαι γαρ επαγγελιαι θεου εν αυτω το ναι και εν αυτω το αμην τω θεω προς δοξαν δι ημων
21 God has given both us and you the inner strength to stand firm in Christ. God has appointed us,
ο δε βεβαιων ημας συν υμιν εις χριστον και χρισας ημας θεος
22 placed his stamp of approval on us, and given us the guarantee of the Spirit to convince us.
ο και σφραγισαμενος ημας και δους τον αρραβωνα του πνευματος εν ταις καρδιαις ημων
23 I call God as my witness that it was to avoid causing you pain that I chose not to come to Corinth.
εγω δε μαρτυρα τον θεον επικαλουμαι επι την εμην ψυχην οτι φειδομενος υμων ουκετι ηλθον εις κορινθον
24 This isn't because we want to dictate how you relate to God, but because we want to help you have a joyful experience—for it's by trusting God that you stand firm.
ουχ οτι κυριευομεν υμων της πιστεως αλλα συνεργοι εσμεν της χαρας υμων τη γαρ πιστει εστηκατε