1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and
Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, with all the
saints who are in the whole of Achaia: 2 Grace to you and peace from God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
mercies and God of all comfort; 4 who comforts us in all our affliction,
that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the
comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the
sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through
Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation.
If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which works in the patient
enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. 7 Our hope for you
is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings,
so also are you of the comfort. 8 For we don’t desire to have you
uninformed, brothers,*1 concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that
we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired
even of life. 9 Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within
ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the
dead, 10 who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on
whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us; 11 you
also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift
bestowed on us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your
behalf. 12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that
in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of
God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
13 For we write no other things to you, than what you read or even
acknowledge, and I hope you will acknowledge to the end; 14 as also
you acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you
also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus. 15 In this confidence, I was
determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit;
16 and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to
you, and to be sent forward by you on my journey to Judea. 17 When I
therefore was thus determined, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I
purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be
the “Yes, yes” and the “No, no?” 18 But as God is faithful, our word
toward you was not “Yes and no.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who
was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not “Yes and
no,” but in him is “Yes.” 20 For however many are the promises of God, in
him is the “Yes.” Therefore also through him is the “Amen,” to the glory of
God through us.
21 Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;
22 who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our
hearts. 23 But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn’t come to
Corinth to spare you. 24 Not that we have lordship over your faith, but
are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in
faith.
1 The word for “brothers” here and where context
allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or
“siblings.”
World English Bible - Public Domain |
|
|