2 Corinthians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

This letter comes from Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the will of God, and from Timothy, our brother. It is sent to the church of God in Corinth, together with all of God's people throughout Achaia.

2 Grace [be] to you and peace from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

May you have grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Praise be to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the compassionate Father and the God of all comfort.

4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those who are also in trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

The more we share in Christ's sufferings, the more we receive the abundant comfort of Christ.

6 And whether we be afflicted, [it is] for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, [it is] for your consolation and salvation.

If we are in distress, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are being comforted, it is for your comfort, which results in you patiently bearing the same sufferings that we suffer.

7 And our hope of you [is] stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so [shall ye be] also of the consolation.

We have great confidence in you, knowing that as you share in our sufferings you also share in our comfort.

8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

Brothers and sisters, we won't keep you in the dark about the trouble we had in Asia. We were so overwhelmed that we were afraid we wouldn't have the strength to continue—so much so we doubted we would live through it.

9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

In fact it was like a death sentence inside us. This was to stop us relying on ourselves and to trust in God who raises the dead.

10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us];

He saved us from a terrible death, and he will do so again. We have total confidence in God that he will continue to save us.

11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift [bestowed] upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

You help us by praying for us. In this way many will thank God for us because of the blessing that God will give us in response to the prayers of many.

12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

We take pride in the fact—and our conscience confirms it—that we have acted properly towards people, and especially to you. We have followed God's principles of holiness and sincerity, not according to worldly wisdom but through the grace of God.

13 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;

For we are not writing anything complicated that you can't read and understand. I hope you'll understand in the end,

14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also [are] ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

even if you only understand part of it now, so that when the Lord comes you will be proud of us, just as we are of you.

15 And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

Because I was so sure of your confidence in me I planned to come and visit you first. That way you could have benefited twice,

16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

as I would go on from you to Macedonia, and then return from Macedonia to you. Then I would have had you send me on my way to Judea.

17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?

Why did I change my original plan? Do you think I make my decisions lightly? Do you think that when I plan I'm like some worldly person who says Yes and No at the same time?

18 But [as] God [is] true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

Just as God can be trusted, when we give you our word it's not both Yes and No.

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, [even] by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

The truth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was announced to you by us—me, Silvanus, and Timothy—and it wasn't both Yes and No. In Christ the answer is absolutely Yes!

20 For all the promises of God in him [are] yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

However, many promises God has made, in Christ the answer is always Yes. Through him we respond, saying Yes to the glory of God.

21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God;

God has given both us and you the inner strength to stand firm in Christ. God has appointed us,

22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

placed his stamp of approval on us, and given us the guarantee of the Spirit to convince us.

23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

I call God as my witness that it was to avoid causing you pain that I chose not to come to Corinth.

24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

This isn't because we want to dictate how you relate to God, but because we want to help you have a joyful experience—for it's by trusting God that you stand firm.