問安

照著神的旨意做基督耶穌使徒的保羅,以及弟兄提摩太

致那在哥林多屬神的教會,以及在全亞該亞省所有的聖徒:

願恩典與平安從神我們的父和主耶穌基督臨到你們!

賜安慰的神

願頌讚歸於神——我們主耶穌基督的父!他是各樣憐憫的、一切安慰的神。 在我們一切的患難中,他安慰我們,使我們自己能用從神所受的安慰去安慰那些在各樣患難中的人, 因為基督的苦難怎樣充充滿滿臨到我們,藉著基督,我們的安慰也照樣充充滿滿。 我們如果受患難,是為了你們的安慰和救恩;我們如果受安慰,也是為了你們的安慰[a];這安慰有功效,使你們能忍耐與我們所受的同樣苦難。 而且我們對你們的盼望是確定的,因為知道你們怎樣在苦難中與我們有份,也怎樣在安慰中與我們有份。

弟兄們,我們不願意你們不明白我們在亞細亞省所遭受的患難:我們所受的壓力遠遠過於我們的承受能力,甚至連活下去的希望也沒有了。 然而我們在自己裡面已經承受了死亡的判決,好讓我們不依靠自己,而依靠那使死人復活的神。 10 他救我們脫離了如此致命的危險[b],並且將來要救我們——我們盼望他將來還要救我們。 11 你們也能通過祈禱一同幫助我們,好讓許多人因著那臨到我們的恩惠[c]為我們獻上感謝;這恩惠是通過許多人臨到我們的。

清潔的良心

12 我們所誇耀的是這一點:我們的良心見證了我們在世上行事為人帶著屬神的忠實[d]和真誠,不是靠屬肉體的智慧,而是靠神的恩典;對你們更是如此。 13 其實我們寫給你們的,無非是你們能讀、能了解的,而且我希望你們能徹底地了解, 14 就像你們對我們已經有一些了解那樣,因為在我們[e]主耶穌的日子[f],我們是你們的誇耀,正如你們是我們的誇耀。

到訪推延

15 藉著這樣的確信,我早就打算先到你們那裡去,使你們能得到兩次的恩典[g] 16 就是經過你們那裡往馬其頓省去,再從馬其頓省回到你們那裡,然後由你們送我上路去猶太 17 那麼,我這樣打算,難道就是輕率行事嗎?難道我所計劃的,是順著肉體的計劃,以致在我忽是忽非嗎? 18 神是信實的,我們向你們傳的話語,並沒有「是」而又「非」。 19 要知道,藉著我們,就是我、賽拉斯提摩太,在你們中間所傳揚的神兒子耶穌基督,並沒有「是」而又「非」;相反,在他只有「是」, 20 因為神的一切應許,在基督[h]裡都成為「是」。所以,說「阿們」也是藉著基督[i],使榮耀藉著我們歸於神。 21 原來將我們與你們在基督裡一起確立,並且膏立了我們大家的那一位,就是神。 22 他又在我們身上蓋了印,並且賜聖靈在我們心裡做為預付憑據[j]

23 我求告神為我的靈魂見證:我沒有再往哥林多去,是因為顧惜你們。 24 我們並不是要轄制你們的信仰,而是要做你們的同工,使你們喜樂;因為你們已經因信站立得住了。

Footnotes

  1. 哥林多後書 1:6 有古抄本附「救恩」。
  2. 哥林多後書 1:10 如此致命的危險——有古抄本作「如此可怕的死亡」。
  3. 哥林多後書 1:11 恩惠——或譯作「恩賜」。
  4. 哥林多後書 1:12 忠實——有古抄本作「聖潔」。
  5. 哥林多後書 1:14 有古抄本沒有「我們」。
  6. 哥林多後書 1:14 日子——指「基督再來的日子」。
  7. 哥林多後書 1:15 得到兩次的恩典——有古抄本作「再得喜樂」。
  8. 哥林多後書 1:20 基督——原文直譯「他」。
  9. 哥林多後書 1:20 基督——原文直譯「他」。
  10. 哥林多後書 1:22 預付憑據——或譯作「定金」。

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

To the church of God(D) in Corinth,(E) together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:(F)

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

Praise to the God of All Comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,(H) the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us(I) in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,(J) so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;(K) if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings,(L) so also you share in our comfort.

We do not want you to be uninformed,(M) brothers and sisters,[a] about the troubles we experienced(N) in the province of Asia.(O) We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God,(P) who raises the dead.(Q) 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,(R) and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope(S) that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers.(T) Then many will give thanks(U) on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Paul’s Change of Plans

12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience(V) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity[b](W) and godly sincerity.(X) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom(Y) but on God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.(Z)

15 Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you(AA) first so that you might benefit twice.(AB) 16 I wanted to visit you on my way(AC) to Macedonia(AD) and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way(AE) to Judea.(AF) 17 Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner(AG) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

18 But as surely as God is faithful,(AH) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God,(AI) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas[c](AJ) and Timothy(AK)—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always(AL) been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises(AM) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”(AN) is spoken by us to the glory of God.(AO) 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm(AP) in Christ. He anointed(AQ) us, 22 set his seal(AR) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(AS)

23 I call God as my witness(AT)—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you(AU) that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over(AV) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.(AW)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:8 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 8:1; 13:11.
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:12 Many manuscripts holiness
  3. 2 Corinthians 1:19 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas

Salutation

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God that is in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:(A)

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

Paul’s Thanksgiving after Affliction

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation,(C) who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ.(D) If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.

We do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia, for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself.(E) Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us;[a] on him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again,(F) 11 as you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many may give thanks on our[b] behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.(G)

The Postponement of Paul’s Visit

12 Indeed, this is our boast, the testimony of our conscience: we have behaved in the world with holiness[c] and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God—and all the more toward you.(H) 13 For we write you nothing other than what you can read and also understand; I hope you will understand until the end— 14 as you have already understood us in part—that on the day of the Lord Jesus we are your boast even as you are our boast.(I)

15 Since I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double favor;[d](J) 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on to Judea.(K) 17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards,[e] ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you is not[f] “Yes and No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not “Yes and No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”(L) 20 For in him every one of God’s promises is a “Yes.” For this reason it is through him that we say the “Amen,” to the glory of God.(M) 21 But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us,(N) 22 who has put his seal on us and given[g] us his Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.(O)

23 But I call on God as witness against me: it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth.(P) 24 I do not mean to imply that we lord it over your faith; rather, we are workers with you for your joy because you stand firm in faith.(Q)

Footnotes

  1. 1.10 Other ancient authorities read is rescuing us or lack the phrase
  2. 1.11 Other ancient authorities read your
  3. 1.12 Other ancient authorities read simplicity
  4. 1.15 Other ancient authorities read joy
  5. 1.17 Gk according to the flesh
  6. 1.18 Other ancient authorities read was not
  7. 1.22 Other ancient authorities read by putting . . . and giving