Verse 1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
Verse 2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;
Verse 4
who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Verse 5
For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ.
Verse 6
But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.
Verse 7
Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so also are you of the comfort.
Verse 8
For we don't desire to have you uninformed, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life.
Verse 9
Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead,
Verse 10
who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;
Verse 11
you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed on us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf.
Verse 12
For our boasting 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 toward you.
Verse 13
For we write no other things to you, than what you read or even acknowledge, and I hope you will acknowledge to the end;
Verse 14
as also you acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
Verse 15
In this confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit;
Verse 16
and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to be sent forward by you on my journey to Judea.
Verse 17
When I therefore was thus determined, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the "Yes, yes" and the "No, no?"
Verse 18
But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not "Yes and no."
Verse 19
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not "Yes and no," but in him is "Yes."
Verse 20
For however many are the promises of God, in him is the "Yes." Therefore also through him is the "Amen," to the glory of God through us.
Verse 21
Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;
Verse 22
who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.
Verse 23
But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn't come to Corinth to spare you.
Verse 24
Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.