1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to God’s congregation in Corinth, together with all the saints who are throughout Achaia:

2 Grace and peace to you 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 every trial, so that we are able to comfort others who are suffering, with the same comfort that God gives to us.

5 For as the persecution of Christ overflows to us, so through Christ our comfort also overflows.

6 And if we suffer, it is for your comfort and salvation, for it produces in you patience in enduring the same sufferings that we suffer: and if we are comforted, it is also for your comfort and salvation.

7 ¶ Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share our sufferings, you shall likewise share our comfort.

8 For we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, as to the persecution we endured in Asia, we were under great pressure, beyond our ability to endure, so much so that we despaired even of life:

9 Indeed we believed that we had been sentenced to death, but that kept us from trusting in ourselves, rather than in God who raises the dead:

10 He rescued us from so deadly a peril, and he will deliver us: he in whom we trust will continue to deliver us;

11 As you also help us by praying for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us through the prayers of many, many will give thanks on our behalf.

12 ¶ For our rejoicing is this, our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves, in the world and especially toward you, in sincerity and singleness of heart, not in accord with fleshly wisdom, but in accord with the grace of God.

13 For we have not written anything to you, other than what you read or understand; and I hope you will continue to understand even to the end;

14 Just as you have also understood in part, that you can be proud of us, even as we are proud of you in the day of our Lord Jesus.

15 ¶ And being confident of this I planned to visit you first, that you might benefit twice;

16 I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia, visit you again on my return from Macedonia, and let you send me on to Judea.

17 Now when I made those plans, was I being fickle? or did I decide on what I decided on in a fleshly way, and say yes yes, but mean no no?

18 But as God is true, our word to you was not both yes and no.

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by Silas Timothy and myself, was not yes and no, but in him is yes.

20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

21 Now he who has established us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God;

22 Who has sealed us, and sent the Spirit into our hearts as a pledge.

23 Moreover I call God as a witness on behalf of my soul, that it was in order to spare you that I have not yet come to Corinth.

24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but we are co-workers with you for your joy: for you stand by faith.