I. * Paul, aan apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and bTimothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at cCorinth, dwith all the saints which are in all eAchaia: 2 fgrace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 gBlessed be hGod, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 iwho comforteth us in all our tribulation, jthat we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, iby the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as kthe sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, lmit is for your consolation and msalvation, which * nis effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that oas you are partakers of the sufferings, opso shall ye be also of the consolation. 8 For qwe would not, brethren, have you ignorant of rour trouble which came to us in sAsia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we tdespaired even of life: 9 but ttwe had the * sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not utrust in ourselves, but vin God wwhich raiseth the dead: 10 xwho delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 11 yyou also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us zby the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

12 For our rejoicing is this, athe testimony of our conscience, that in bsimplicity and godly csincerity, dnot with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-wards. 13 For we write none other things unto you, than what you read or acknowledge; and I trust you shall acknowledge even to the end; 14 as also you have acknowledged us ein part, that we are your frejoicing, even as ye also are ours gin the day of the Lord Jesus. 15 And in this confidence hI was minded to come unto you before, that you might have ia second * benefit; 16 and to pass by you into jMacedonia, and kto come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be lbrought on my way toward Judea. 17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose maccording to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? 18 But as God is true, our * nword toward you was not yea and nay. 19 For othe Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and pSilvanus and qTimotheus, was not yea and nay, but rin him was yea. 20 For sall the promises of God in him are tyea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath uanointed us, is God; 22 who hath also vsealed us, and wgiven the earnest of xthe Spirit in our hearts.

23 Moreover yI call God for a record upon my soul, that zto spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. 24 Not for that we ahave dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for bby faith ye stand.