2 Corinthians 1
1 To the church of God in Corinth, and to all Christ’s people throughout Greece, from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Timothy, who is also a follower.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother: to the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in all Achaia:
2 May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace.
Grace unto you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed is the God and Father of Jesus Christ our Lord, the all-merciful Father, the God ever ready to console,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.
4 who consoles us in all our troubles, so that we may be able to console those who are in any trouble with the consolation that we ourselves receive from him.
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation; that we also may be able to comfort them who are in all distress, by the exhortation wherewith we also are exhorted by God.
5 It is true that we have our full share of the sufferings of the Christ, but through the Christ we have also our full share of consolation.
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us: so also by Christ doth our comfort abound.
6 If we meet with trouble, it is for the sake of your consolation and salvation; and, if we find consolation, it is for the sake of the consolation that you will experience when you are called to endure the sufferings that we ourselves are enduring;
Now whether we be in tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation: or whether we be exhorted, it is for your exhortation and salvation, which worketh the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.
7 and our hope for you remains unshaken. We know that, as you are sharing our sufferings, you will also share our consolation.
That our hope for you may be steadfast: knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation.
8 We want you, friends, to know that, in the troubles which befell us in Roman Asia, we were burdened altogether beyond our strength, so much so that we even despaired of life.
For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, of our tribulation, which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure above our strength, so that we were weary even of life.
9 Indeed, we had the presentiment that we must die, so that we might rely, not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead.
But we had in ourselves the answer of death, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead.
10 And from so imminent a death God delivered us, and will deliver us again; for in him we have placed our hopes of future deliverance, while you, also, help us by your prayers.
Who hath delivered and doth deliver us out of so great dangers: in whom we trust that he will yet also deliver us.
11 And then many lips will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers.
You helping withal in prayer for us: that for this gift obtained for us, by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many in our behalf.
12 Indeed, our main ground for satisfaction is this – Our conscience tells us that our conduct in the world, and still more in our relations with you, was marked by a purity of motive and a sincerity that were inspired by God, and was based, not on worldly policy, but on the help of God.
For our glory is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity of heart and sincerity of God, and not in carnal wisdom, but in the grace of God, we have conversed in this world: and more abundantly towards you.
13 We never write anything to you other than what you will acknowledge to the very end –
For we write no other things to you than what you have read and known. And I hope that you shall know unto the end:
14 And, indeed, you have already partly acknowledged it about us – that you have a right to be proud of us, as we will be proud of you, on the day of our Lord Jesus.
As also you have known us in part, that we are your glory, as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 With this conviction in my mind, I planned to come to see you first, so that your pleasure might be doubled –
And in this confidence I had a mind to come to you before, that you might have a second grace:
16 To visit you both on my way to Macedonia, and to come to you again on my return from Macedonia, and then to get you to send me on my way into Judea.
And to pass by you into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be brought on my way towards Judea.
17 As this was my plan, where, pray, did I show any fickleness of purpose? Or do you think that my plans are formed on mere impulse, so that in the same breath I say “Yes” and “No”?
Whereas then I was thus minded, did I use lightness? Or, the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that there should be with me, It is, and It is not?
18 As God is true, the message that we brought you does not waver between “Yes” and “No”!
But God is faithful, for our preaching which was to you, was not, It is, and It is not.
19 The Son of God, Christ Jesus, whom we – Silas, Timothy, and I – proclaimed among you, never wavered between “Yes” and “No.” With him it has always been “Yes.”
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ who was preached among you by us, by me, and Sylvanus, and Timothy, was not, It is and It is not, but, It is, was in him.
20 For, many as were the promises of God, in Christ is the “Yes” that fulfils them. Therefore, through Christ again, let the “Amen” rise, through us, to the glory of God.
For all the promises of God are in him, It is; therefore also by him, amen to God, unto our glory.
21 God who brings us, with you, into close union with Christ, and who consecrated us,
Now he that confirmeth us with you in Christ, and that hath anointed us, is God:
22 also set his seal on us, and gave us his Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of future blessings.
Who also hath sealed us, and given the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.
23 But, as my life will answer for it, I call God to witness that it was to spare you that I deferred my visit to Corinth.
But I call God to witness upon my soul, that to spare you, I came not any more to Corinth:
24 I do not mean that we are to dictate to you with regard to your faith; on the contrary, we work with you for your true happiness; indeed, it is through your faith that you are standing firm.
not because we exercise dominion over your faith: but we are helpers of your joy: for in faith you stand.
