Greeting

Paul, (A)an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and (B)Timothy our brother,

To the church of God which is at Corinth, (C)with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

(D)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Comfort in Suffering

(E)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who (F)comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any [a]trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as (G)the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our [b]consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, (H)it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that (I)as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

Delivered from Suffering

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of (J)our [c]trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should (K)not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 (L)who delivered us from so great a death, and [d]does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also (M)helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on [e]our behalf (N)for the gift granted to us through many.

Paul’s Sincerity

12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in [f]simplicity and (O)godly sincerity, (P)not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. 13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end 14 (as also you have understood us in part), (Q)that we are your boast as (R)you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Sparing the Church

15 And in this confidence (S)I intended to come to you before, that you might have (T)a second benefit— 16 to pass by way of you to Macedonia, (U)to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea. 17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan (V)according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? 18 But as God is (W)faithful, our [g]word to you was not Yes and No. 19 For (X)the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, (Y)Silvanus, and (Z)Timothy—was not Yes and No, (AA)but in Him was Yes. 20 (AB)For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and (AC)has anointed us is God, 22 who (AD)also has sealed us and (AE)given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

23 Moreover (AF)I call God as witness against my soul, (AG)that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. 24 Not (AH)that we [h]have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for (AI)by faith you stand.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:4 tribulation
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:5 comfort
  3. 2 Corinthians 1:8 tribulation
  4. 2 Corinthians 1:10 NU shall
  5. 2 Corinthians 1:11 M your behalf
  6. 2 Corinthians 1:12 The opposite of duplicity
  7. 2 Corinthians 1:18 message
  8. 2 Corinthians 1:24 rule

Introduction

Paul, (A)an apostle of (B)Christ Jesus (C)by the will of God, and our brother (D)Timothy,

To (E)the church of God which is at (F)Corinth with all the [a]saints who are throughout (G)Achaia:

(H)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(I)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and (J)God of all comfort, who (K)comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in [b]any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just (L)as the sufferings of Christ are [c]ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is (M)for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that (N)as you are partners in our sufferings, so also you are in our comfort.

For (O)we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our (P)affliction which occurred in [d](Q)Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. [e]Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, 10 who (R)rescued us from so great a danger of death, and will rescue us, He [f](S)on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, 11 if you also join in (T)helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by (U)many persons in our behalf for the favor granted to us through the prayers of many.

Paul’s Integrity

12 For our [g]proud confidence is this: the testimony of (V)our conscience, that in holiness and (W)godly sincerity, (X)not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. 13 For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand (Y)until the end; 14 just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, on (Z)the day of our Lord Jesus.

15 In this confidence I intended at first to (AA)come to you, so that you might [h]twice receive a [i](AB)blessing; 16 [j]that is, to (AC)pass [k]your way into (AD)Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be (AE)helped on my journey to Judea. 17 Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I decide, do I decide (AF)according to the flesh, so that with me there will be [l]yes, yes and no, no at the same time? 18 But as (AG)God is faithful, (AH)our word to you is not yes and no. 19 For (AI)the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and (AJ)Silvanus and (AK)Timothy—was not yes and no, but has been yes (AL)in Him. 20 For (AM)as many as the promises of God are, (AN)in Him they are yes; therefore through Him also is (AO)our Amen to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who (AP)establishes us with you in Christ and (AQ)anointed us is God, 22 who also (AR)sealed us and (AS)gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a [m]pledge.

23 But (AT)I call God as witness to my soul, that it was (AU)to spare you that I did not come again to (AV)Corinth. 24 Not that we (AW)domineer over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are (AX)standing firm.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:1 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:4 Lit every
  3. 2 Corinthians 1:5 Lit to us
  4. 2 Corinthians 1:8 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  5. 2 Corinthians 1:9 Lit But we ourselves
  6. 2 Corinthians 1:10 One early ms on whom we have set our hope that He will also
  7. 2 Corinthians 1:12 Or source of pride
  8. 2 Corinthians 1:15 Lit have a second grace
  9. 2 Corinthians 1:15 One early ms joy
  10. 2 Corinthians 1:16 Lit and
  11. 2 Corinthians 1:16 Lit through you into
  12. 2 Corinthians 1:17 I.e., a strong yes and no
  13. 2 Corinthians 1:22 Or first installment

Greeting

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will,(A) and Timothy(B) our[a] brother:

To God’s church at Corinth,(C) with all the saints who are throughout Achaia.(D)

Grace to you and peace(E) from God our Father(F) and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The God of Comfort

Praise(G) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies(H) and the God of all comfort.(I) He comforts us in all our affliction,[b] so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For as the sufferings(J) of Christ(K) overflow to us, so through Christ our comfort also overflows.(L) If we are afflicted,(M) it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in your endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.(N) And our hope(O) for you is firm, because we know that as you share(P) in the sufferings, so you will share in the comfort.

For we don’t want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in Asia:(Q) we were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength(R)—so that we even despaired(S) of life. Indeed, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God(T) who raises(U) the dead. 10 He has delivered(V) us from such a terrible death,(W) and He will deliver us. We have put our hope in Him that He will deliver us again 11 while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our[c] behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.

A Clear Conscience

12 For this is our confidence: The testimony(X) of our conscience(Y) is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly[d] wisdom(Z) but by God’s grace.(AA) 13 Now we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely— 14 as you have partially understood us—that we are your reason for pride,(AB) as you are ours,(AC) in the day of our[e] Lord Jesus.(AD)

A Visit Postponed

15 I planned with this confidence to come to you first,(AE) so you could have a double benefit,[f] 16 and to go on to Macedonia(AF) with your help, then come to you again from Macedonia and be given a start by you(AG) on my journey(AH) to Judea.(AI) 17 So when I planned this, was I irresponsible? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human[g](AJ) way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” simultaneously? 18 As God is faithful,(AK) our message to you is not “Yes and no.” 19 For the Son of God,(AL) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus[h](AM) and Timothy—did not become “Yes and no”; on the contrary, a final “Yes” has come in Him.(AN) 20 For every one of God’s promises(AO) is “Yes” in Him. Therefore, the “Amen”(AP) is also spoken through Him by us for God’s glory.(AQ) 21 Now it is God who strengthens us, with you, in Christ and has anointed(AR) us. 22 He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment(AS) in our hearts.(AT)

23 I call on God as a witness,(AU) on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth.(AV) 24 I do not mean that we have control of[i] your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand(AW) by faith.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:1 Lit the
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:4 Or trouble, or tribulation, or trials, or oppression; the Gk word has a lit meaning of being under pressure.
  3. 2 Corinthians 1:11 Other mss read your
  4. 2 Corinthians 1:12 The word fleshly (characterized by flesh) indicates that the wisdom is natural rather than spiritual.
  5. 2 Corinthians 1:14 Other mss omit our
  6. 2 Corinthians 1:15 Other mss read a second joy
  7. 2 Corinthians 1:17 Or a worldly, or a fleshly, or a selfish
  8. 2 Corinthians 1:19 Or Silas; Ac 15:22-32; 16:19-40; 17:1-16
  9. 2 Corinthians 1:24 Or we lord it over, or we rule over