Paul Greets the Corinthians (Acts 18:1–11; 1 Corinthians 1:1–3)
1 UEB Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, and to all the believers in the entire region 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 UEB May grace be to you and peace from God our Father and 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 UEB May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be praised. He is 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 UEB God comforts us in all our affliction, so that we can comfort those who are in any affliction. We comfort others with the same comfort that God used to comfort us. 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 UEB For just as the sufferings of Christ abound for our sake, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. BSB BSB: For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
6 UEB But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort. Your comfort is working effectively when you patiently share in the same sufferings that 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 UEB Our expectation concerning you is unshaken, for we know that as you share the sufferings, you also share our comfort. 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 UEB For we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the troubles we had in Asia. We were so completely crushed beyond our strength that we despaired 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 UEB Indeed, we had the sentence of death on us. But that was to make us not put our trust in ourselves, but instead 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 UEB He rescued us from such a deadly peril, and he will rescue us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to 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 UEB He will do this as you also help us by your prayer. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor given to us through the prayers of many. 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 UEB We are proud of this: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world with holiness and godly sincerity, not relying on fleshly wisdom but on the grace of God. 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 UEB We write to you nothing that you cannot read and understand. I expect that, 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 UEB as you have understood us in part, we will be your reason for boasting on the day of our Lord Jesus, just as you will be our reason to boast. 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 UEB Because I was confident about this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might receive the benefit of two visits. BSB BSB: Confident of this, I planned to visit you first, so that you might receive a double blessing.
16 UEB I was planning to visit you on my way to Macedonia. Then I wanted to visit you again on my trip from Macedonia, and then for you to send me 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 UEB When I was thinking this way, was I hesitating? Do I plan things according to human standards, so that I say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" at the same time? 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 UEB But just as God is faithful, we do not say both "Yes" and "No." BSB BSB: But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”
19 UEB For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom Silvanus, Timothy and I proclaimed among you, is not "Yes" and "No." Instead, he is always "Yes." 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 UEB For all the promises of God are "Yes" in him. So also through him we say "Amen" to the glory of God. 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 UEB Now it is God who confirms us with you in Christ, and he appointed us, BSB BSB: Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us,
22 UEB he set his seal on us and he gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee of what is to come. BSB BSB: placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.
23 UEB Instead, I call God to bear witness for me that the reason I did not come to Corinth was so that I might spare you. BSB BSB: I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
24 UEB This is not because we are trying to control what your faith should be. Instead, we are working with you for your joy, as you stand in your faith. 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.