2 Corinthians 1:5-2:4

Christian Standard Bible

⁵ For just as the sufferings^(A) of Christ^(B) overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.^{(C) 6} If we are afflicted,^(D) 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.^{(E) 7} And our hope^(F) for you is firm, because we know that as you share^(G) in the sufferings, so you will also share in the comfort.

⁸ We don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction that took place in Asia.^(H) We were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength^(I)—so that we even despaired^(J) of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God^(K) who raises^(L) the dead. ¹⁰ He has delivered^(M) us from such a terrible death,^(N) 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^[a] behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.

A Clear Conscience

¹² Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony^(O) of our conscience^(P) is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom^(Q) but by God’s grace.^{(R) 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,^(S) just as you also are ours^(T) in the day of our^[b] Lord Jesus.^(U)

A Visit Postponed

¹⁵ Because of this confidence, I planned to come to you first,^(V) so that you could have a second benefit,^{[c] 16} and to visit you on my way to Macedonia,^(W) and then come to you again from Macedonia and be helped by you^(X) on my journey^(Y) to Judea.^{(Z) 17} Now when I planned this, was I of two minds? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human^[d](AA) way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? ¹⁸ As God is faithful,^(AB) our message to you is not “Yes and no.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God,^(AC) Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you—Silvanus,^[e](AD) Timothy, and I—did not become “Yes and no.” On the contrary, in him it is always “Yes.”^{(AE) 20} For every one of God’s promises^(AF) is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen”^(AG) to the glory of God.^{(AH) 21} Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed^(AI) us. ²² He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts^(AJ) as a down payment.^(AK)

²³ I call on God as a witness,^(AL) on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth.^{(AM) 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^(AN) faith.

2 In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.^{[f] 2} For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?^{[g] 3} 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^(AO) about all of you that my joy will also be yours. ⁴ 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.