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God of All Comfort

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

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 abound to us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. But whether we are afflicted, it is (M)for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is working in your perseverance in the same sufferings which we also suffer. And our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that (N)as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

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

Paul’s Change of Plans

12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of (V)our conscience, that in [f]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 for boasting as you also are ours, in (Z)the day of our Lord Jesus.

15 And in this confidence I intended at first to (AA)come to you, so that you might receive [g](AB)grace twice; 16 [h]that is, to (AC)pass [i]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, was I vacillating when I intended to do this? Or what I purpose, do I purpose (AF)according to the flesh, so that with me there will be 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, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and (AJ)Silvanus and (AK)Timothy—was not yes and no, but has become yes (AL)in Him. 20 For (AM)as many as are the promises of God, (AN)in Him they are yes. Therefore also through Him 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 the [j]pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.

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

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:1 Or holy ones
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:4 Lit every
  3. 2 Corinthians 1:8 West coast province of Asia Minor
  4. 2 Corinthians 1:9 Lit But we ourselves
  5. 2 Corinthians 1:10 One early ms on whom we have set our hope that He will also
  6. 2 Corinthians 1:12 Some mss simplicity, cf. 11:3
  7. 2 Corinthians 1:15 One early ms joy
  8. 2 Corinthians 1:16 Lit and
  9. 2 Corinthians 1:16 Lit through you into
  10. 2 Corinthians 1:22 Or down payment
  11. 2 Corinthians 1:23 Lit upon

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy [a]our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be [b]the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ. But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort. For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life: [c]yea, we ourselves have had the [d]sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead: 10 who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have [e]set our hope that he will also still deliver us; 11 ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf.

12 For our glorying 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 to you-ward. 13 For we write no other things unto you, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge unto the end: 14 as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

15 And in this confidence I was minded to come first unto you, that ye might have a second [f]benefit; 16 and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto Judaea. 17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I show fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay? 18 But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you [g]by us, even [h]by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea. 20 For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us. 21 Now he that establisheth us with you [i]in Christ, and anointed us, is God; 22 [j]who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23 But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth. 24 Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in [k]faith ye stand fast.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:1 Greek the brother.
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:3 Or, God and the Father. See Rom. 15:6 margin.
  3. 2 Corinthians 1:9 Or, but we ourselves
  4. 2 Corinthians 1:9 Greek answer.
  5. 2 Corinthians 1:10 Some ancient authorities read set our hope; and still will he deliver us.
  6. 2 Corinthians 1:15 Or, grace. Some ancient authorities read joy.
  7. 2 Corinthians 1:19 Greek through.
  8. 2 Corinthians 1:19 Greek through.
  9. 2 Corinthians 1:21 Greek into.
  10. 2 Corinthians 1:22 Or, seeing that he both sealed us
  11. 2 Corinthians 1:24 Or, your faith