11 Paul , an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God , and Timothy our brother , To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the [1]saints who are throughout Achaia : 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ .
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , the Father of mercies and God of all comfort , 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in [2]any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God . 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are [3]ours in abundance , so also our comfort is abundant through Christ . 6 But if we are afflicted , it is for your comfort and salvation ; or if we are comforted , it is for your comfort , which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer ;
7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded , knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings , so also you are sharers of our comfort . 8 For we do not want you to be unaware , brethren , of our affliction which came to us in [4] Asia , that we were burdened excessively e , beyond our strength , so that we despaired even of life ; 9 [5]indeed , we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves , but in God who raises the dead ; 10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death , and will deliver us, [6]He on whom we have set our hope . And He will yet deliver us, 11 you also joining in helping us through your prayers , so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many .
12 For our [7]proud confidence is this : the testimony of our conscience , that in holiness and godly sincerity , not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God , we have conducted ourselves in the world , and especially toward you. 13 For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand , and I hope you will understand until the end ; 14 just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours , in the day of our Lord Jesus .
15 In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might [8]twice receive a [9] blessing ; 16 [10]that is, to pass [11]your way into Macedonia , and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea . 17 Therefore , I was not vacillating e when I intended to do this , was I? Or what I purpose , do I purpose according to the flesh , so that with me there will be yes , yes and no , no at the same time? 18 But as God is faithful , our word to you is not yes and no . 19 For the Son of God , Christ Jesus , who was preached among you by us-by me and Silvanus and Timothy -was not yes and no , but is yes in Him. 20 For as many as are the promises of God , in Him they are yes ; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God , 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a [12]pledge . 23 But I call God as witness [13]to my soul , that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth . 24 Not that we lord it over your faith , but are workers with you for your joy ; for in your faith you are standing firm .
