Paul Greets the Corinthians (Acts 18:1–11; 1 Corinthians 1:1–3)
1 DRA Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother: to the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in all 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 DRA Grace unto you and peace 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 DRA Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. BSB BSB: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
4 DRA Who comforteth us in all our tribulation; that we also may be able to comfort them who are in all distress, by the exhortation wherewith we also are 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 DRA For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us: so also by Christ doth our comfort abound. BSB BSB: For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
6 DRA Now whether we be in tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation: or whether we be exhorted, it is for your exhortation and salvation, which worketh the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. 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 DRA That our hope for you may be steadfast: knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of 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 DRA For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, of our tribulation, which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure above our strength, so that we were weary even of life. 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 DRA But we had in ourselves the answer of death, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth 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 DRA Who hath delivered and doth deliver us out of so great dangers: in whom we trust that he will yet also deliver 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 DRA You helping withal in prayer for us: that for this gift obtained for us, by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many in our behalf. 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 DRA For our glory is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity of heart and sincerity of God, and not in carnal wisdom, but in the grace of God, we have conversed in this world: and more abundantly towards 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 DRA For we write no other things to you than what you have read and known. And I hope that you shall know 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 DRA As also you have known us in part, that we are your glory, as you also are ours, in 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 DRA And in this confidence I had a mind to come to you before, 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 DRA And to pass by you into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be brought on my way towards 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 DRA Whereas then I was thus minded, did I use lightness? Or, the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that there should be with me, It is, and It is not? 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 DRA But God is faithful, for our preaching which was to you, was not, It is, and It is not. BSB BSB: But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”
19 DRA For the Son of God, Jesus Christ who was preached among you by us, by me, and Sylvanus, and Timothy, was not, It is and It is not, but, It is, was 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 DRA For all the promises of God are in him, It is; therefore also by him, amen to God, unto 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 DRA Now he that confirmeth us with you in Christ, and that hath anointed us, is God: BSB BSB: Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us,
22 DRA Who also hath sealed us, and given 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 DRA But I call God to witness upon my soul, that to spare you, I came not any more 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 DRA not because we exercise dominion over your faith: but we are helpers of your joy: for in 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.