Paul Greets the Corinthians (Acts 18:1–11; 1 Corinthians 1:1–3)
1 CPDV Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy, a brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all of Achaia: BSB BSB: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:
2 CPDV Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. BSB BSB: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The God of All Comfort 3 CPDV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation. BSB BSB: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
4 CPDV He consoles us in all our tribulation, so that we too may be able to console those who are in any kind of distress, through the exhortation by which we also are being exhorted by God. BSB BSB: who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
5 CPDV For just as the Passion of Christ abounds in us, so also, through Christ, does our consolation abound. BSB BSB: For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
6 CPDV So, if we are in tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation, or if we are in consolation, it is for your consolation, or if we are exhorted, it is for your exhortation and salvation, which results in the patient endurance of the same passion which we also endure. BSB BSB: If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which accomplishes in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we experience.
7 CPDV So may our hope for you be made firm, knowing that, just as you are participants in the suffering, so also shall you be participants in the consolation. BSB BSB: And our hope for you is sure, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.
8 CPDV For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about our tribulation, which happened to us in Asia. For we were weighed down beyond measure, beyond our strength, so that we became weary, even of life itself. BSB BSB: We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.
9 CPDV But we had within ourselves the response to death, so that we would not have faith in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead. BSB BSB: Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.
10 CPDV He has rescued us, and he is rescuing us, from great peril. In him, we hope that he will continue to rescue us. BSB BSB: He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,
11 CPDV And you are assisting, with your prayers for us, so that from many persons, by that which is a gift in us, thanks may be given through many persons, because of us. BSB BSB: as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers.
Paul’s Change of Plans 12 CPDV For our glory is this: the testimony of our conscience, which is found in simplicity of heart and in sincerity toward God. And it is not with worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God, that we have conversed with this world, and more abundantly toward you. BSB BSB: For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
13 CPDV For we write nothing else to you other than what you have read and understood. And I hope that you will continue to understand, even unto the end. BSB BSB: For we do not write you anything that is beyond your ability to read and understand. And I hope that you will understand us completely,
14 CPDV And just as you have acknowledged us in our role, that we are your glory, so also you are ours, unto the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. BSB BSB: as you have already understood us in part, that you may boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of our Lord Jesus.
15 CPDV And with this confidence, I wanted to come to you sooner, so that you might have a second grace, BSB BSB: Confident of this, I planned to visit you first, so that you might receive a double blessing.
16 CPDV and through you to pass into Macedonia, and to return to you again from Macedonia, and so be led by you on my way to Judea. BSB BSB: I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to return to you from Macedonia, and then to have you help me on my way to Judea.
17 CPDV Then, although I had intended this, did I act lightly? Or in the things that I consider, do I consider according to the flesh, so that there would be, with me, both Yes and No? BSB BSB: When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” and also “No, no”?
18 CPDV But God is faithful, so our word, which was set before you, was not, in him, both Yes and No. BSB BSB: But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”
19 CPDV For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you through us, through myself and Sylvanus and Timothy, was not Yes, and No; but was simply Yes in him. BSB BSB: For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.”
20 CPDV For whatever promises are of God are, in him, Yes. For this reason, too, through him: Amen to God for our glory. BSB BSB: For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God.
21 CPDV Now the One who confirms us with you in Christ, and who has anointed us, is God. BSB BSB: Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us,
22 CPDV And he has sealed us, and he has placed the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts. BSB BSB: placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.
23 CPDV But I call God as a witness to my soul, that I was lenient with you, in that I did not return to Corinth: BSB BSB: I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
24 CPDV not because we have dominion over your faith, but because we are assistants of your joy. For by faith you stand. BSB BSB: Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that you stand firm.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.