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The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

King James Version :: World English Bible Catholic

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- Chapter 1 -

(Acts 18:1–11; 1 Corinthians 1:1–3)
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:
2
Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The God of All Comfort

3
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, 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.
5
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by 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.
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.
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:
9
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
10
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver 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.

Paul’s Change of Plans

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.
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;
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.
15
And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
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 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?
18
But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
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.
20
For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
21
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
23
Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
24
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
(Acts 18:1–11; 1 Corinthians 1:1–3)
1
Paul, an apostle of Christ (a) 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:
2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The God of All Comfort

3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
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.
5
For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ.
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.
7
Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so you are also of the comfort.
8
For we don’t desire to have you uninformed, brothers,(b) 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.
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,
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,
11
you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift given to us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf.

Paul’s Change of Plans

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.
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
14
as also you acknowledged us in partthat we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
15
In this confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit,
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.
17
When I therefore planned this, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be theYes, yesand theNo, no?”
18
But as God is faithful, our word toward you was notYes and no.”
19
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by usby me, Silvanus, and Timothywas notYes and no,” but in him isYes.”
20
For however many are the promises of God, in him is theYes.” Therefore also through him is the “Amen”, to the glory of God through us.
21
Now he who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,
22
who also sealed us and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.
23
But I call God for a witness to my soul, that to spare you, I didn’t come to Corinth.
24
We don’t control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.
(b)1:8 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”