1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, 1Co 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 2Tm 1:1 and Timothy 1Th 3:2; 1Tm 1:2 our Lit the brother:

2Grace to you and peace Lk 12:51; Rm 1:7; 2Tm 1:2; 3Jn 14 from God our Father Mt 5:16; 11:27; Lk 11:13; Jn 8:42; Eph 5:20 and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3Praise Mk 14:61 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies Heb 10:28 and the God of all comfort. Lk 2:25

4He comforts us in all our affliction, Or trouble, or tribulation, or trials, or oppression ; the Gk word has a lit meaning of being under pressure. so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

5For as the sufferings Gl 5:24; Php 3:10 of Christ Rm 8:17; 2Co 4:10; Gl 6:17; Php 3:10; Col 1:24 overflow to us, so through Christ our comfort also overflows. Php 1:29

6If we are afflicted, Heb 11:37 it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in your endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer. Php 1:29

7And our hope 1Th 1:3 for you is firm, because we know that as you share Phm 17 in the sufferings, so you will share in the comfort.

8For we don’t want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in Asia: Ac 6:9 we were completely overwhelmed — beyond our strength Ac 8:10; 1Co 15:24; Eph 1:21; 1Pt 3:22 — so that we even despaired 2Co 4:8 of life.

9Indeed, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God Ps 25:2; 26:1; Jr 17:5-7; Lk 18:9 who raises Mk 9:27; Jn 2:19 the dead.

10He has delivered Mt 27:43 us from such a terrible death, Mt 10:21; Jn 8:51; Php 3:10 and He will deliver us. We have put our hope in Him that He will deliver us again

11while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our Other mss read your behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.

12For this is our confidence: The testimony 1Tm 2:6 of our conscience Heb 13:18 is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly The word fleshly (characterized by flesh) indicates that the wisdom is natural rather than spiritual. wisdom Pr 3:19; 1Co 1:21 but by God’s grace. Ac 23:1; 2Co 4:2; 5:12; 1Th 2:10

13Now we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely —

14as you have partially understood us — that we are your reason for pride, Rm 2:17; Gl 6:4 as you are ours, 2Co 9:3; Php 2:16; 4:1; 1Th 2:19-20 in the day of our Other mss omit our Lord Jesus. Php 1:6

15I planned with this confidence to come to you first, Ac 18:1-18; 1Co 4:19 so you could have a double benefit, Other mss read a second joy

16and to go on to Macedonia Ac 16:9 with your help, then come to you again from Macedonia and be given a start by you Ac 20:38 on my journey Ac 19:21; 1Co 16:5-7 to Judea. Lk 1:5

17So when I planned this, was I irresponsible? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human Or a worldly, or a fleshly, or a selfish Php 3:3; Col 3:22 way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” simultaneously?

18As God is faithful, Nm 23:19 our message to you is not “Yes and no.”

19For the Son of God, Jn 5:19; Heb 1:2 Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us — by me and Silvanus Or Silas ; Ac 15:22-32; 16:19-40; 17:1-16 1Th 1:1 and Timothy — did not become “Yes and no”; on the contrary, a final “Yes” has come in Him. Heb 13:8

20For every one of God’s promises Gn 12:7 is “Yes” in Him. Therefore, the “Amen” Ps 72:19; Rv 22:21 is also spoken through Him by us for God’s glory. Mk 10:37; Lk 9:32; Jn 17:24; 2Co 3:18; 2Pt 3:18

21Now it is God who strengthens us, with you, in Christ and has anointed Lk 4:18; 1Jn 2:20 us.

22He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment Eph 1:14 in our hearts. Jms 4:5

23I call on God as a witness, Rm 1:9; Php 1:8; Heb 12:1 on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth. 1Co 4:21; 2Co 13:2,10

24I do not mean that we have control of Or we lord it over, or we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand Pr 24:16 by faith.