Greeting

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

To the church of God 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

Blessed be(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 just as the sufferings(J) of Christ(K) overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.(L) If we are afflicted,(M) it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient 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 also share in the comfort.

We don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, 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 itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death, 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 Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony(X) of our conscience(Y) is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom(Z) but by God’s grace.(AA) 13 For we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely— 14 just as you have partially understood us—that we are your reason for pride,(AB) just as you also are ours(AC) in the day of our[d] Lord Jesus.(AD)

A Visit Postponed

15 Because of this confidence, I planned to come to you first,(AE) so that you could have a second benefit,[e] 16 and to visit you on my way to Macedonia,(AF) and then come to you again from Macedonia and be helped by you(AG) on my journey(AH) to Judea.(AI) 17 Now when I planned this, was I of two minds? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human[f](AJ) way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As God is faithful,(AK) our message to you is not “Yes and no.” 19 For the Son of God,(AL) Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you—Silvanus,[g](AM) Timothy, and I—did not become “Yes and no.” On the contrary, in him it is always “Yes.”(AN) 20 For every one of God’s promises(AO) is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen”(AP) to the glory of God.(AQ) 21 Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed(AR) us. 22 He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts(AS) as a down payment.(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 lord it over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand firm in your(AW) faith.

In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.[h] For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?[i] I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident(AX) about all of you that my joy will also be yours. For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not to cause you pain, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.

A Sinner Forgiven

If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree—not to exaggerate(AY)—to all of you. This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. As a result, you should instead forgive(AZ) and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. I wrote for this purpose: to test your character(BA) to see if you are obedient(BB) in everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I do too. For what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—it is for your benefit in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we may not be taken advantage(BC) of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

A Trip to Macedonia

12 When I came to Troas(BD) to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door(BE) for me, 13 I had no rest(BF) in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus.(BG) Instead, I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.(BH)

A Ministry of Life or Death

14 But thanks be to God,(BI) who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.(BJ) 15 For to God we are the fragrance(BK) of Christ among those who are being saved(BL) and among those who are perishing.(BM) 16 To some we are an aroma of death(BN) leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life(BO) leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? 17 For we do not market the word of God(BP) for profit like so many.[j] On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Lit the
  2. 1:4 Or trouble, or tribulation, or trials, or oppression
  3. 1:11 Other mss read your
  4. 1:14 Other mss omit our
  5. 1:15 Other mss read a second joy
  6. 1:17 Or a worldly, or a fleshly, or a selfish
  7. 1:19 Or Silas; Ac 15:22–32; 16:19–40; 17:1–16
  8. 2:1 Lit not again in sorrow to come to you
  9. 2:2 Lit the one pained
  10. 2:17 Other mss read like the rest

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