1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: (Ro 1:1; 1Co 1:1; Ga 1:1; Eph 1:1; Php 1:1; Col 1:1; Col 1:2; 1Th 3:2; 1Ti 1:1; 2Ti 1:1; Tit 1:1)2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ro 1:7)
God of All Comfort
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, (Ro 15:5; Ro 15:6; Eph 1:3; 1Pe 1:3)4who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (Isa 51:12; Isa 66:13)5For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.[1] (2Co 4:10; Php 3:10; Col 1:24)6If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. (2Co 4:15; 2Co 12:15; Eph 3:13; 2Ti 2:10)7Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. (Ro 8:17)8For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[2] of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. (Ac 19:23; 1Co 15:32)9Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. (Ps 2:12; Ps 25:2; Ps 26:1; Lu 18:9; 2Co 4:14)10He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. (Ro 15:31; 1Ti 4:10)11You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. (Ac 12:5; Ro 15:30; 2Co 4:15; 2Co 9:11; Php 1:19; Phm 1:22)
Paul’s Change of Plans
12For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity[3] and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. (Ac 23:1; 1Co 2:4; 1Co 2:13; 2Co 2:17; 2Co 4:2; 1Th 2:10)13For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand—14just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you. (1Co 1:8; 1Co 9:15; 2Co 2:5; 2Co 5:12; 2Co 9:3; Php 2:16; Php 4:1; 1Th 2:19)15Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. (Ac 18:1; Ro 1:11; 1Co 4:19)16I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. (Ac 19:21; 1Co 16:5)17Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? (2Co 10:2)18As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. (1Co 1:9; 2Co 2:17)19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. (Mt 14:33; Ac 15:22; Heb 13:8)20For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (Ro 15:8; 1Co 14:16; Heb 10:23; Re 3:14)21And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, (1Jo 2:20; 1Jo 2:27)22and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.[4] (Ro 8:16; 2Co 5:5; Eph 1:13; Eph 1:14; Eph 4:30)23But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. (Ro 1:9; 1Co 4:21; 2Co 2:1; 2Co 2:3; Ga 1:20)24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. (Mt 23:8; Ro 11:20; 1Co 15:1; 2Co 4:5; 1Pe 5:3)
2 Corinthians 1
New International Version
from Biblica1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise to the God of all comfort
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.5For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters,[1] about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.9Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Paul’s change of plans
12Now this is our boast: our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity[2] and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.13For we do not write to you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that,14as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.15Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you first so that you might benefit twice.16I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to let you send me on my way to Judea.17Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both ‘Yes, yes’ and ‘No, no’?18But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’.19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us – by me, Silas[3] and Timothy – was not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’, but in him it has always been ‘Yes’.20For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.23I call God as my witness – and I stake my life on it – that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.
2 Corinthians 1
New International Reader’s Version
from Biblica1I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. Timothy our brother joins me in writing. We are sending this letter to you, the members of God’s church in Corinth. It is also for all God’s holy people everywhere in Achaia.2May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Praise to the God who gives comfort
3Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father who gives tender love. All comfort comes from him.4He comforts us in all our troubles. Now we can comfort others when they are in trouble. We ourselves receive comfort from God.5We share very much in the sufferings of Christ. So we also share very much in his comfort.6If we are having trouble, it is so that you will be comforted and renewed. If we are comforted, it is so that you will be comforted. Then you will be able to put up with the same suffering we have gone through.7Our hope for you remains firm. We know that you suffer just as we do. In the same way, God comforts you just as he comforts us.8Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the hard times we had in Asia Minor. We were having a lot of trouble. It was far more than we could stand. We even thought we were going to die.9In fact, we felt as if we were under the sentence of death. But that happened so that we would not depend on ourselves but on God. He raises the dead to life.10God has saved us from deadly dangers. And he will continue to do it. We have put our hope in him. He will continue to save us.11You must help us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because of what will happen to us. They will thank God for his kindness to us in answer to the prayers of many.
Paul changes his plans
12Here is what we take pride in. Our sense of what is right and wrong tells us how we have acted. We have lived with honour and godly honesty. We have depended on God’s grace and not on the world’s wisdom. We lived that way most of all when we were dealing with you.13We are writing only what you can read and understand. And here is what I hope.14Up to this point you have understood some of the things we have said. But now here is what I hope for when the Lord Jesus returns. I hope that your pride in us will be the same as our pride in you. When this happens, you will understand us completely.15Because I was sure of this, I wanted to visit you first. Here is how I thought you would be helped twice.16I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia. I would have come back to you from there. Then you would have sent me on my way to Judea.17When I planned all this, was I ready to change my mind for no good reason? No. I don’t make my plans the way the world makes theirs. In the same breath the world says both, ‘Yes! Yes!’ and ‘No! No!’18But just as sure as God is faithful, our message to you is not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’.19Silas, Timothy and I preached to you about the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Our message did not say ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ at the same time. The message of Christ has always been ‘Yes’.20God has made a great many promises. They are all ‘Yes’ because of what Christ has done. So through Christ we say ‘Amen’. We want God to receive glory.21He makes both us and you remain strong in the faith because we belong to Christ. He anointed us.22He put his Spirit in our hearts and marked us as his own. We can now be sure that he will give us everything he promised us.23I call God to be my witness. May he take my life if I’m lying. I wanted to spare you, so I didn’t return to Corinth.24Your faith is not under our control. You remain strong in your own faith. But we work together with you for your joy.
2 Corinthians 1
King James Version
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:2Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.3Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;4Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.5For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.6And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.7And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.8For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:9But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:10Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;11Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.12For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.13For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;14As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.15And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;16And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.17When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?18But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.20For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.21Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.23Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.24Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
1Paulus, durch Gottes Willen Apostel Christi Jesu, und der Bruder Timotheus an die Kirche Gottes, die in Korinth ist, und an alle Heiligen in ganz Achaia. (1Co 1:1)2Gnade sei mit euch und Friede von Gott, unserem Vater, und dem Herrn Jesus Christus!
VON LEIDEN UND TROST DES APOSTELS
3Gepriesen sei der Gott und Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus, der Vater des Erbarmens und Gott allen Trostes. (Eph 1:3; 1Pe 1:3)4Er tröstet uns in all unserer Not, damit auch wir die Kraft haben, alle zu trösten, die in Not sind, durch den Trost, mit dem auch wir von Gott getröstet werden. (2Co 7:6)5Wie uns nämlich die Leiden Christi überreich zuteilgeworden sind, so wird uns durch Christus auch überreicher Trost zuteil. (Php 3:10)6Sind wir aber in Not, so ist es zu eurem Trost und Heil. Werden wir getröstet, so ist es zu eurem Trost; er wird wirksam durch Geduld in den gleichen Leiden, die auch wir erleiden. (2Co 4:12; Php 1:29)7Unsere Hoffnung für euch ist unerschütterlich, denn wir wissen, dass ihr nicht nur an den Leiden teilhabt, sondern auch am Trost.8Denn wir wollen euch über die Not nicht in Unkenntnis lassen, Brüder und Schwestern, die in der Provinz Asien über uns kam und uns über alles Maß bedrückte; unsere Kraft war so sehr erschöpft, dass wir am Leben verzweifelten. (Ac 19:23; 1Co 15:32)9Aber was uns betrifft, hatten wir schon das Todesurteil erhalten, damit wir unser Vertrauen nicht auf uns selbst setzen, sondern auf Gott, der die Toten auferweckt. (Ro 4:17)10Er hat uns aus dieser großen Todesnot errettet und wird uns retten; auf ihm ruht unsere Hoffnung, dass er uns auch in Zukunft retten wird.11Helft aber auch ihr, indem ihr für uns betet, damit viele Menschen unsertwegen Dank sagen für die Gnade, die uns geschenkt wurde! (Ro 15:30; 2Co 4:15)
THEMA UND ANLIEGEN DES BRIEFS
12Denn das ist unser Ruhm - und dafür zeugt auch unser Gewissen -, dass wir in der Welt, vor allem euch gegenüber, in der Aufrichtigkeit und Lauterkeit, wie Gott sie schenkt, unser Leben führten, nicht aufgrund menschlicher Weisheit, sondern aufgrund göttlicher Gnade. (Ro 9:1; 2Co 2:17; 2Co 10:2)13Denn wir schreiben euch nichts anderes, als was ihr lest und kennt; ich hoffe, ihr werdet noch ganz erkennen, (2Co 10:10)14wie ihr uns zum Teil schon erkannt habt, nämlich dass wir euer Ruhm sind, so wie ihr unser Ruhm seid, am Tag unseres Herrn Jesus. (2Co 5:12; Php 2:16)
ERSTER RÜCKBLICK SPANNUNGEN ZWISCHEN APOSTEL UND GEMEINDE
Gott ist nicht ja und nein zugleich
15In dieser Zuversicht wollte ich zunächst zu euch kommen, damit ihr ein zweites Mal Gnade erfahren hättet.16Von euch wollte ich dann nach Mazedonien weiterreisen und von Mazedonien zu euch zurückkommen, um von euch für die Reise nach Judäa ausgestattet zu werden. (1Co 16:5)17Dies also wollte ich. War ich dabei etwa leichtsinnig? Oder will ich das, was ich will, dem Fleische nach, sodass bei mir zugleich Ja, ja und Nein, nein gilt? (Mt 5:37; 2Co 10:2; Jas 5:12)18Gott ist treu, er bürgt dafür, dass unser Wort euch gegenüber nicht Ja und Nein zugleich ist. (1Co 1:9)19Denn Gottes Sohn Jesus Christus, der euch durch uns verkündet wurde - durch mich, Silvanus und Timotheus -, ist nicht als Ja und Nein zugleich gekommen; in ihm ist das Ja verwirklicht.20Denn er ist das Ja zu allem, was Gott verheißen hat. Darum ergeht auch durch ihn das Amen zu Gottes Lobpreis, vermittelt durch uns. (1Co 14:16; Re 3:14)21Gott aber ist es, der uns mit euch auf Christus hin stärkt und der uns gesalbt hat. (2Co 5:5; Eph 1:13; 1Jo 2:27)22Er hat uns auch sein Siegel aufgedrückt und als ersten Anteil den Geist in unsere Herzen gegeben.23Ich rufe aber Gott zum Zeugen an bei meinem Leben, dass ich nur, um euch zu schonen, nicht mehr nach Korinth gekommen bin. (Ro 1:9)24Wir sind nicht Herren über euren Glauben, sondern wir sind Mitarbeiter eurer Freude; denn im Glauben steht ihr fest. (2Co 4:5; 1Pe 5:3)