2 Corinthians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy the brother, to the gathering of God that is in Corinth, together with all the holy ones who are in the whole of Achaia: [a] 2 Favor to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [c]

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions and God of all comfort, [d] † 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we are able to comfort those in every affliction through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. [e] 5 Because just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

6 And if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and rescue; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which works itself out in the endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer; [f] 7 and our hope for you is firm, knowing that as you are sharers of the sufferings, so also of the comfort. [g]

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about our affliction that happened in Asia — that we were weighed down beyond measure, beyond our power, so that we were utterly at a loss even about living. [h] 9 But we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, so that we should not be confident in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, [j] 10 who rescued us out of so great a death and will rescue; in whom we have hoped that he will still rescue, 11 while you also join in helping us by your plea, so that from many faces thanks may be given by many on our behalf for the gift of favor given to us. [k]

12 For this is our boasting: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God — not in fleshly wisdom but in the favor of God — we conducted ourselves in the world, and more than ever toward you. [l] 13 For we write you nothing other than what you read or also know fully; and I hope that to the end you will know fully, [m] 14 just as you also knew us fully in part — that we are your boast, just as you also are ours, on the day of our Lord Jesus.

15 And in this confidence I was wanting to come to you earlier, so that you might have a second favor, 16 and to go by way of you into Macedonia, and to come again from Macedonia to you, and by you to be sent on my way into Judea. 17 So, wanting this, did I then act with lightness? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to flesh, so that with me there is the “Yes, yes” and the “No, no”? [n]

18 But God is faithful: our word to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you through us — through me and Silvanus and Timothy — did not become “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has become “Yes.” [o] 20 For as many as are the promises of God, in him is the “Yes”; therefore also through him is the “Amen,” to God for glory through us. [p]

21 And the one who confirms us together with you into Christ, and who anointed us, is God, [q] 22 who also sealed us and gave the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts. [r]

23 But I call on God as witness against my soul, that it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth. 24 Not that we are lords over your faith, but we are fellow workers of your joy; for it is by faith that you stand. [s]