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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

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.

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