-
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:
-
Praise to the God of All Comfort
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
-
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
-
I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.
-
Forgiveness for the Offender
If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely.
-
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
-
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
-
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
-
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
-
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
-
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
-
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
-
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
-
I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
-
By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
-
And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling.
-
And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.
-
And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.
-
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
-
Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
-
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
-
Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
-
Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.
-
All God’s people here send their greetings.
-
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
