1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus {Christos Iesous, Messiah Lord} by the will of God {Theos, Sovereign Ruler}, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, together with all the saints who are in all Achaia.
2 Grace to you and peace from God {Theos, Faithful Fatherly Source} our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Grace Sharing Lord}.
3 Blessed be the God {Theos, All-Compassionate Father} and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Source of Comfort}, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
4 He grants us comfort in every affliction {thlipsis: crushing distress}, so that we may be able to comfort those who face any affliction by the very comfort through which we ourselves are comforted by God {Theos, Faithful Consoler}.
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ {Christos, Anointed Sufferer} overflow toward us, so also through Christ our comfort {paraklesis: steady consolation} overflows.
6 But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort {parakleseos: sustaining encouragement} and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is being accomplished in the endurance {hypomone: steadfast perseverance} of the same sufferings which we also suffer.
7 And our hope {elpis: confident expectation} concerning you is firm, knowing that just as you are partners in the sufferings, so also you are in the comfort {paraklesis: encouraging support}.
8 For we do not want you, brothers, to remain unaware of the affliction {thlipseos: intense hardship} that happened to us in Asia; we were weighed down beyond measure, beyond our strength, so that we gave up hope even of life {zen: to continue living}.
9 But we ourselves bore the sentence of death within us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God {Theos, Faithful Deliverer} who raises the dead {nekrous: utterly lifeless}.
10 He {Theos, Faithful Deliverer} rescued us from so great a death {thanatos: overwhelming peril}, and He will rescue us; in Him we have placed our hope, that He will yet again rescue us.
11 As you also join in helping on our behalf by your prayer {deēsē: earnest request}, so that thanksgiving may be offered by many persons on our behalf for the gift {charisma: gracious favor} granted to us through the prayers of many.
12 For this is our boast: the testimony {martyrion: credible proof} of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity from God {Theos, Divine Guarantor}, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.
13 For we are not writing {graphomen: ongoing correspondence} to you anything other than what you read or also recognize {epiginoskete: perceive clearly}, and I hope that you will fully know until the end.
14 Just as you have also recognized {epegnote: fully understood} us in part, that we are your boast, just as you are also ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus {Kyrios Iesous, Faithful Judge}.
15 And in this confidence {pepoithesis: firm assurance} I was planning to come to you earlier {proteron: prior plan}, so that you might receive a second grace.
16 And through you to pass through into Macedonia {Makedonia: northern Greek region}, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be sent forward into Judea {Ioudaia: Jewish homeland region}.
17 Therefore, when I intended this, surely I did not act with lightness {elaphria: careless attitude}? Or what I plan, do I plan according to the flesh {sarx: self-serving mindset}, so that with me there would be both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?
18 But God {Theos, Faithful Guarantor} is faithful: our word {logos: spoken promise} to you is not both “Yes” and “No.”
19 For the Son of God {huios theou: God’s Own Son}, Jesus Christ {Iesous Christos: Unchanging Yes}, the One whom we heralded among you—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him it has become Yes.
20 For as many as are the promises of God {Theos, Faithful Promise-Giver}, in Him is the Yes; therefore also through Him we speak the Amen to God for glory {doxa: honor and renown} through us.
21 Now the One who establishes us with you in Christ {Christos, Anointed Lord} and has anointed us is God {Theos, Faithful Establisher}.
22 Who also sealed us and gave the pledge of the Spirit {pneuma, Indwelling Guarantor} in our hearts {kardia: inner person}.
23 But I call upon God {Theos, Solemn Witness} as a witness against my soul {psyche: deepest life}, that it was in order to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth.
24 Not that we lord it over your faith {pistis: persevering trust}, but we are co-workers {synergoi: partners in service} for your joy; for by faith you have stood firm.