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.

Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and brother Timothy, to the church of God which is at Corinth, along with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

2 May you have grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

3 Praise be to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the compassionate Father and the God of all comfort.

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation;

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.

the one comforting us in all our tribulation, in order that we may be able to comfort those in all tribulation, through the consolation with which we ourselves are comforted of God,

5 The more we share in Christ's sufferings, the more we receive the abundant comfort of Christ.

because as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation through Christ also abounds.

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.

But if we are troubled it is in behalf of your consolation and salvation; if we are comforted, it is in behalf of your consolation, working in you through the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer.

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

And our hope is stedfast in your behalf; knowing that, as you are the partakers of the sufferings, so you are also of the consolation.

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.

For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction taking place in Asia, because we were burthened exceedingly, above our power, so that we despaired even of living:

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.

but we had the answer of death in ourselves, in order that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God who raised the dead:

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.

who delivered us from so great a death, and will deliver: in whom he have hope that he will also yet deliver;

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.

you also cooperating in our behalf in prayer; in order that, the gift which is bestowed upon us from many persons, may through many be a source of thanks given in our behalf.

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.

For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and purity of God, not in carnal wisdom, but in the grace of God, we have sojourned in the world, and especially towards you.

13 For we are not writing anything complicated that you can't read and understand. I hope you'll understand in the end,

For we do not write other things to you, but those things which you read and know, and I hope that you will know them perfectly:

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.

as you have also known us in part, because we are your glorying, as you ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

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,

And in this confidence I wished to come unto you sooner, that you may have a second grace;

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.

and through you to go unto Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be sent forward into Judea.

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?

Then wishing this, whether did I use lightness of purpose? or the things which I counsel, do I counsel according to the flesh, in order that it may be with me yes yes and no no?

18 Just as God can be trusted, when we give you our word it's not both Yes and No.

But God is faithful, that our word which is to you is not yes and no.

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!

For Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the one being preached by us, through me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but it was yes in him.

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.

For so many promises of God, in Him are yes; therefore indeed through him they are Amen unto the glory to God through us.

21 God has given both us and you the inner strength to stand firm in Christ. God has appointed us,

But the one confirming us along with you unto Christ, and having anointed us, is God.

22 placed his stamp of approval on us, and given us the guarantee of the Spirit to convince us.

Who also having sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23 I call God as my witness that it was to avoid causing you pain that I chose not to come to Corinth.

But I call God to witness to my soul, that sparing you I did not yet come into Corinth:

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.

not that we domineer over your faith, but we are fellow-workers of your joy: for by faith you stand.