2 Corinthians 1

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy the brother, to the church of God in Corinth, with all the saints who are throughout Achaia.

2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3Blessed is God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of every comfort.

4who comforts us in every hardship we face, so we can comfort others amid any hardship, through the comfort by which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5For as Christ's sufferings abound toward us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

6But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort that works in patient endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer.

7And our hope for you stands firm, knowing that as you share in the sufferings, so you also share in the comfort.

8For we do not want you unaware, brothers, of our affliction that arose in Asia—that we were burdened beyond excess, past our power, so much that we despaired even of life.

9But we ourselves had the judgment of death in ourselves, that we should not be confident in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.

10Who rescued us from such a great death and will rescue us, on whom we have hoped that he will also still rescue us.

11As you also help together on our behalf by prayer, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in holiness and sincerity from God—not in fleshly wisdom, but in God's grace—in the world, and even more so toward you.

13For we write nothing to you but what you read or even recognize, and I hope that you will recognize it to the end.

14As you also recognized us in part—that we are your boasting, just as you also are ours in the day of our Lord Jesus.

15And with this confidence I planned to come to you beforehand, that you might have a second favor.

16and to go through you into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be accompanied into Judea.

17Therefore, when I intended this, did I then use lightness? Or do I purpose according to the flesh what I purpose, that with me there may be the yes yes and the no no?

18But God is faithful, for our word to you is not yes and no.

19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—did not become yes and no, but yes has become in him.

20For all God's promises are yes in him; therefore also through him is amen, to God's glory through us.

21Now the one who confirms us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God.

22who also sealed us and gave the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.

23But I call God as witness upon my soul that, to spare you, I did not come again to Corinth.

24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are co-workers for your joy—for by faith you stand.