Paul Greets the Corinthians

(1 Corinthians 1:1-3)

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in the whole of 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 mercies and God of all comfort; 4who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ. 6But whether we be afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we be comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: 7and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort.

8For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9yea, we ourselves have had the answer of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us; 11ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf.

Paul's Change of Plans

12For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. 13For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge unto the end: 14as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

15And in this confidence I was minded to come before unto you, that ye might have a second benefit; 16and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto Judaea. 17When I therefore was thus minded, did I shew fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay? 18But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay. 19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea. 20For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us. 21Now he that stablisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; 22who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth. 24Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.