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an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God at Corinth, with all the saints who are throughout Achaia:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort of the we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant in us, so our comfort also overflows through Christ. 6 If we are being afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience as you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comforting.
8 We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in the province of Asia. For we were completely overwhelmed, beyond our strength to endure, so that we even despaired of life. 9 Indeed, we felt in our hearts we had even received a sentence of death so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will continue to deliver us. And we have set our hope on Him that He will deliver us again, 11 as you also join in helping us by your prayers. Then many people will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious gift granted to us through the prayers of many.
12 Now this is our boast: the testimony of our conscience that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, in the holiness and sincerity given by God. We have not conducted ourselves by man’s wisdom but by the grace of God. 13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you can read and understand. Now I hope you will understand completely, 14 as you have already understood us in part, that we are your reason for pride as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
15 Since I was sure of this, I planned to visit you first, so that you might have a double benefit. 16 I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to from Macedonia, and then be sent by you on my journey to Judea. 17 So when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans merely in a ordinary human manner, so that in the same breath I might say “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?
18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you has not been “Yes” and “No”, but in Him it is always “Yes”. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No”, but in Him it is always “Yes”. 20 For all the promises of God has made are “Yes” in Christ. So through Him the “Amen” we say is spoken to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who confirms us with you in Christ and has anointed us, 22 setting His seal on us, and giving us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
23 I call on God as a witness against me; it was to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we have control over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because you stand firm in the faith.