1FROM PAUL,
APOSTLE of Christ Jesus by God's will, and our colleague Timothy,
to the congregation of God's people at Corinth, together with all who are dedicated to him throughout the whole of Achaia.
2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the all-merciful Father, the God whose consolation never fails us! 4He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we in turn may be able to comfort others in any trouble of theirs and to share with them 5the consolation we ourselves receive from God. As Christ's cup of suffering overflows, and we suffer with him, so also through Christ our consolation overflows. 6If distress be our lot, it is the price we pay for your consolation, for your salvation; if our lot be consolation, it is to help us to bring you comfort, and strength to face with fortitude the same sufferings we now endure. 7And our hope for you is firmly grounded; for we know that if you have part in the suffering, you have part also in the divine consolation.
8In saying this, we should like you to know, dear friends, how serious was the trouble that came upon us in the province of Asia. The burden of it was far too heavy for us to bear, so heavy that we even despaired of life. Indeed, we felt in our hearts that we had received a death-sentence. 9This was meant to teach us not to place reliance on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead. 10From such mortal peril God delivered us; and he will deliver us again, he on whom our hope is fixed. Yes, he will continue to deliver us, if you will co-operate by praying for us. 11Then, with so many people praying for our deliverance, there will be many to give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour God has shown towards us.
12There is one thing we are proud of: our conscience assures us that in our dealings with our fellow-men, and above all in our dealings with you, our conduct has been governed by a devout and godly sincerity, by the grace of God and not by worldly wisdom. 13There is nothing in our letters to you but what you can read for yourselves, and understand too. 14Partial as your present knowledge of us is, you will I hope come to understand fully that you have as much reason to be proud of us, as we of you, on the Day of our Lord Jesus.
15It was because I felt so confident about all this that I had intended to come first of all to you and give you the benefit of a double visit: 16I meant to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and after leaving Macedonia, to return to you, and you would then send me on my way to Judaea. 17That was my intention; did I lightly change my mind? Or do I, when I frame my plans, frame them as a worldly man might, so that it should rest with me to say 'yes' and 'yes', or 'no' and 'no'? 18As God is true, the language in which we address you is not an ambiguous blend of Yes and No. 19The Son of God, Christ Jesus, proclaimed among you by us (by Silvanus and Timothy, I mean, as well as myself), was never a blend of Yes and No. With him it was, and is, Yes. 20He is the Yes pronounced upon God's promises, every one of them. That is why, when we give glory to God, it is through Christ Jesus that we say 'Amen'. 21And if you and we belong to Christ, guaranteed as his and anointed, it is all God's doing; 22it is God also who has set his seal upon us, and as a pledge of what is to come has given the Spirit to dwell in our hearts.
23I appeal to God to witness what I am going to say; I stake my life upon it: it was out of consideration for you that I did not after all come to Corinth. 24Do not think we are dictating the terms of your faith; your hold on the faith is secure enough. We are working with you for your own happiness.
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