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

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus† by the will of God, and Timothy the brother,

To the church of God being in Corinth, with all the saints being in all Achaia:

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

The God of All Comfort

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions and God of all comfort, 4the One comforting us in all our tribulation, for us to be able to comfort those in every tribulation through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God, 5because just as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, so through Christ our comfort also abounds.

6But if we are hard pressed, it is for your⁺ comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your⁺ comfort, operating in the endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer. 7And our hope for you⁺ is sure, knowing that as you⁺ are fellow partakers of the sufferings, so also of the comfort.

8For we do not want you⁺ to be ignorant brothers, as to our tribulation having happened in Asia,† that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so as for us to despair even to live. 9But we have had in ourselves the sentence of death, so that we should not be trusting in ourselves, but in God, the One raising the dead, 10who delivered us from so great a death and will deliver us,† in whom we have hoped that also He will deliver us still, 11in your⁺ also together helping us by supplication, so that thanks may be given for us† by many faces for the gracious gift to us through many.

Paul’s Change of Plans

12For our boasting is this: The testimony of our conscience, that in the simplicity† and sincerity of God, and not in fleshly† wisdom but in the grace of God, we conducted ourselves in the world and more abundantly toward you⁺. 13For we write no other things to you⁺ but what you⁺ read or also understand. And I hope that you⁺ will understand to the end, 14as also you⁺ understood us in part, so that we are your⁺ boast, even as you⁺ are also ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.†

15And with this confidence I was purposing to come to you⁺ before, so that you⁺ might have a second grace, 16and through you⁺ to pass through into Macedonia, and to come to you⁺ again from Macedonia, and to be sent forth by you⁺ to Judea.

17Therefore, purposing this, then, did I use lightness? Or do I purpose what I purpose according to flesh, so that with me it may be “Yes, yes” and “No, no”? 18But faithful is God, that our word to you⁺ is not† “Yes” and “No.” 19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ,† having been proclaimed among you⁺ by us—by me and Silvanus† and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but it has been “Yes” in Him. 20For as many as are the promises of God, in Him is the “Yes.” Therefore also through Him† the “Amen” through us is for glory to God.

21Now the One establishing us with you⁺ into Christ, and having anointed us, is God, 22the One also having sealed us and having given the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts. 23But I call God as witness upon my soul, that sparing you⁺ I did not yet come to Corinth. 24Not that we lord it over your⁺ faith, but we are fellow workers with you⁺ of joy; for in the faith you⁺ stand firm.

Footnotes:

1 BYZ and TR of Jesus Christ
8 Or in the province of Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.
10 BYZ and TR and He continues to deliver (us)
11 BYZ given on your behalf
12 SBL, TH, and WH holiness
12 That is, worldly
14 BYZ and TR the Lord Jesus
18 BYZ and TR was not
19 WH Christ Jesus
19 That is, Silas
20 BYZ and TR in Him