Paul Greets the Corinthians
(Acts 18:1–11; 1 Corinthians 1:1–3)

1Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and brother Timothy, to the church of God which is at Corinth, along with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

The God of All Comfort

3Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation; 4the one comforting us in all our tribulation, in order that we may be able to comfort those in all tribulation, through the consolation with which we ourselves are comforted of God, 5because as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation through Christ also abounds. 6But if we are troubled it is in behalf of your consolation and salvation; if we are comforted, it is in behalf of your consolation, working in you through the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer. 7And our hope is stedfast in your behalf; knowing that, as you are the partakers of the sufferings, so you are also of the consolation.

8For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction taking place in Asia, because we were burthened exceedingly, above our power, so that we despaired even of living: 9but we had the answer of death in ourselves, in order that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God who raised the dead: 10who delivered us from so great a death, and will deliver: in whom he have hope that he will also yet deliver; 11you also cooperating in our behalf in prayer; in order that, the gift which is bestowed upon us from many persons, may through many be a source of thanks given in our behalf.

Paul’s Change of Plans

12For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and purity of God, not in carnal wisdom, but in the grace of God, we have sojourned in the world, and especially towards you. 13For we do not write other things to you, but those things which you read and know, and I hope that you will know them perfectly: 14as you have also known us in part, because we are your glorying, as you ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

15And in this confidence I wished to come unto you sooner, that you may have a second grace; 16and through you to go unto Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be sent forward into Judea. 17Then wishing this, whether did I use lightness of purpose? or the things which I counsel, do I counsel according to the flesh, in order that it may be with me yes yes and no no? 18But God is faithful, that our word which is to you is not yes and no. 19For Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the one being preached by us, through me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but it was yes in him. 20For so many promises of God, in Him are yes; therefore indeed through him they are Amen unto the glory to God through us. 21But the one confirming us along with you unto Christ, and having anointed us, is God. 22Who also having sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23But I call God to witness to my soul, that sparing you I did not yet come into Corinth: 24not that we domineer over your faith, but we are fellow-workers of your joy: for by faith you stand.