Paul Greets the Corinthians (Acts 18:1–11; 1 Corinthians 1:1–3)
1 RV Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in the whole 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 RV Grace 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 RV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and 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 RV who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of 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 RV For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ. BSB BSB: For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
6 RV But whether we be afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we be comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient 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 RV and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the 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 RV For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch 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 RV yea, we ourselves have had the answer of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which 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 RV who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still 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 RV ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on 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 RV For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. 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 RV For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge 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 RV as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus. 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 RV And in this confidence I was minded to come before unto you, that ye might have a second benefit; BSB BSB: Confident of this, I planned to visit you first, so that you might receive a double blessing.
16 RV and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto Judaea. 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 RV When I therefore was thus minded, did I shew fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay? 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 RV But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay. BSB BSB: But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”
19 RV For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea. 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 RV For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us. 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 RV Now he that stablisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; BSB BSB: Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us,
22 RV who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest 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 RV But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto 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 RV Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye 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.