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, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

2 May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace.

Grace be to 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 God, even the 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 may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of 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 our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

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;

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 for you remains unshaken. We know that, as you are sharing our sufferings, you will also share our consolation.

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 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, 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 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 the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which 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 delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

11 And then many lips will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers.

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 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 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 We never write anything to you other than what you will acknowledge to the very end –

For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to 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 ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

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 was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

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 to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judæa.

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”?

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 As God is true, the message that we brought you does not waver between “Yes” and “No”!

But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

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, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

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 in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

21 God who brings us, with you, into close union with Christ, and who consecrated us,

Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and 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 hath also sealed us, and given the earnest 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.

Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto 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 for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.