Paul Greets the Corinthians
(Acts 18:1–11; 1 Corinthians 1:1–3)

1Paul (humble), an apostle (sent one) of Christ (the Anointed One) Jesus (YHWH saves) by the will of God {Theou}, and Timothy (honoring God) our brother,

To the church {ekklēsia} of God in Corinth (in Greece), together with all the saints (holy ones) throughout Achaia (southern Greece):

2Grace and peace to you⁺ from God {Theou} our Father and the Lord {Kyriou} Jesus (YHWH saves) Christ (the Anointed One).

The God of All Comfort

3Blessed be the God {Theos} and Father {Patēr} of our Lord {Kyriou} Jesus (YHWH saves) Christ (the Anointed One), the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God {Theou}. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ (the Anointed One) overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

6If we are afflicted, it is for your⁺ comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your⁺ comfort, which accomplishes in you patient endurance (perseverance) of the same sufferings we experience. 7And our hope for you⁺ is sure, because we know that just as you⁺ share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.

8We do not want you⁺ to be unaware, brothers (and sisters), of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia \in Asia/.a We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure {dynamin}, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God {Theō}, who raises the dead.

10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us, 11as you⁺ help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers.

Paul’s Change of Plans

12For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you⁺, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God {Theou}—not in worldly \fleshly/b wisdom, but in the grace of God. 13For we do not write you⁺ anything that is beyond your⁺ ability to read and understand. And I hope that you⁺ will understand us completely, 14as you⁺ have already understood us in part, that you⁺ may boast of us just as we will boast of you⁺ in the day of our Lord {Kyriou} Jesus [the Lord Jesus].c

15Confident of this, I planned to visit you⁺ first, so that you⁺ might receive a double blessing. 16I wanted to visit you⁺ on my way to Macedonia, and to return to you⁺ from Macedonia, and then to have you⁺ help me on my way to Judea (land of praise).

17When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” and also “No, no”? 18But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you⁺ is not “Yes” and “No.” 19For the Son of God {Theou}, Jesus (YHWH saves) Christ (the Anointed One), who was proclaimed among you⁺ by me and Silvanus (Silas)d and Timothy (honoring God), was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.” 20For all the promises of God {Theou} are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory {doxan} of God {Theō}.

21Now it is God {Theos} who establishes both us and you⁺ in Christ (the Anointed One). He anointed us, 22placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit {Pneumatos} in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come. 23I call God {Theon} as my witness that it was in order to spare you⁺ that I did not return to Corinth (in Greece). 24Not that we lord it over your⁺ faith, but we are fellow workers with you⁺ for your joy, because it is by faith that you⁺ stand firm.