2 Corinthians 1

1 To the church of God in Corinth, and to all Christ’s people throughout Greece, from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Timothy, who is also a follower.

Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, and all the saints that are in Achaia:

2 May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace.

grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed is the God and Father of Jesus Christ our Lord, the all-merciful Father, the God ever ready to console,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all consolation; who comforteth us in all our affliction,

4 who consoles us in all our troubles, so that we may be able to console those who are in any trouble with the consolation that we ourselves receive from him.

that we may be able to comfort those, that are in any trouble, by the consolation wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 It is true that we have our full share of the sufferings of the Christ, but through the Christ we have also our full share of consolation.

For as the sufferings for the sake of Christ abound on us, so our consolation by Christ doth also abound.

6 If we meet with trouble, it is for the sake of your consolation and salvation; and, if we find consolation, it is for the sake of the consolation that you will experience when you are called to endure the sufferings that we ourselves are enduring;

And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is wrought out by the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or if we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

7 and our hope for you remains unshaken. We know that, as you are sharing our sufferings, you will also share our consolation.

And our hope is firm concerning you, knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the consolation.

8 We want you, friends, to know that, in the troubles which befell us in Roman Asia, we were burdened altogether beyond our strength, so much so that we even despaired of life.

For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befel us in Asia, that we were exceedingly pressed above our strength, so that we despaired even of life:

9 Indeed, we had the presentiment that we must die, so that we might rely, not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead.

but we had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead:

10 And from so imminent a death God delivered us, and will deliver us again; for in him we have placed our hopes of future deliverance, while you, also, help us by your prayers.

who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver, in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us:

11 And then many lips will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers.

you also assisting by prayer for us, that the favor obtained for us by the prayers of many might be thankfully acknowledged by many on our account.

12 Indeed, our main ground for satisfaction is this – Our conscience tells us that our conduct in the world, and still more in our relations with you, was marked by a purity of motive and a sincerity that were inspired by God, and was based, not on worldly policy, but on the help of God.

For this is our rejoicing, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and pious sincerity, not with carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and especially towards you.

13 We never write anything to you other than what you will acknowledge to the very end –

For we write no other things to you, but what ye own and acknowledge, and I hope ye will always acknowledge.

14 And, indeed, you have already partly acknowledged it about us – that you have a right to be proud of us, as we will be proud of you, on the day of our Lord Jesus.

As ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, as ye also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

15 With this conviction in my mind, I planned to come to see you first, so that your pleasure might be doubled –

And in this confidence I had a mind to come to you first, (that ye might have a second benefit, ) and to pass by you into Macedonia;

16 To visit you both on my way to Macedonia, and to come to you again on my return from Macedonia, and then to get you to send me on my way into Judea.

and then to come to you again from Macedonia, and by you to be forwarded on my way to Judea.

17 As this was my plan, where, pray, did I show any fickleness of purpose? Or do you think that my plans are formed on mere impulse, so that in the same breath I say “Yes” and “No”?

Now when I intended this, was I chargeable with levity? or what I purpose, do I purpose from carnal motives, that with me there should be yea, yea, and then no, no?

18 As God is true, the message that we brought you does not waver between “Yes” and “No”!

But the faithful God, He knows, that our word to you was not yes and no.

19 The Son of God, Christ Jesus, whom we – Silas, Timothy, and I – proclaimed among you, never wavered between “Yes” and “No.” With him it has always been “Yes.”

For Jesus Christ the Son of God, who was preached among you by us, even by me, and Silvanus, and Timothy, was not yea and nay,

20 For, many as were the promises of God, in Christ is the “Yes” that fulfils them. Therefore, through Christ again, let the “Amen” rise, through us, to the glory of God.

but was yea in Him, (for all the promises of God are in Him yea, and in Him amen, ) to the glory of God by us:

21 God who brings us, with you, into close union with Christ, and who consecrated us,

but He that establisheth us as well as you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us,

22 also set his seal on us, and gave us his Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of future blessings.

and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23 But, as my life will answer for it, I call God to witness that it was to spare you that I deferred my visit to Corinth.

But I call God to witness on my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet to Corinth:

24 I do not mean that we are to dictate to you with regard to your faith; on the contrary, we work with you for your true happiness; indeed, it is through your faith that you are standing firm.

not that we are lords over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.