2 Corinthians 1:1-12

Greeting

1 Paul, a an apostle of Christ Jesus b by the will of God, and c Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, d with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

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

God of All Comfort

3 f Blessed be the g God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and h God of all comfort, 4 i who 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. 5 For as we share abundantly in j Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 1 6 k If 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. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you l share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, 2 of m the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us n rely not on ourselves o but on God p who raises the dead. 10 q He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. r On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 s You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf t for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Paul's Change of Plans

12 For our boast is this, u the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity 3 and v godly sincerity, w not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

  1. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:1
    Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of...
    Colossians 1:1
    Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of...
    1 Timothy 1:1
    Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of ...
    2 Timothy 1:1
    Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of...
    Titus 1:1
    Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus ...
    Romans 1:1
    Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be a...
    Galatians 1:1
    Paul, an apostle - not from men nor through man...
  2. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 1:1
    Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes.
  3. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 3:2
    And we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith.
  4. Cross References
    Philippians 1:1
    Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
    Colossians 1:2
    To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
  5. Cross References
    Romans 1:7
    To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  6. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:3
    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
    1 Peter 1:3
    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
  7. Cross References
    Romans 15:6
    That together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  8. Cross References
    Romans 15:5
    May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.
  9. Cross References
    Isaiah 51:12
    I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass.
    Isaiah 66:13
    As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
  10. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 4:10
    Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
    Philippians 3:10
    That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.
    Colossians 1:24
    Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.
  11. Cross References
    2 Timothy 2:10
    Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
    2 Corinthians 4:15
    For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
    2 Corinthians 12:15
    I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
    Ephesians 3:13
    So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
  12. Cross References
    Romans 8:17
    And if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
  13. Cross References
    Acts 19:23
    About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way.
    1 Corinthians 15:32
    What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.
  14. Cross References
    Luke 18:9
    He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
  15. Cross References
    Psalms 2:12
    Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
    Psalms 25:2
    O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.
    Psalms 26:1
    Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
  16. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 4:14
    Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.
  17. Cross References
    Romans 15:31
    That I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.
  18. Cross References
    1 Timothy 4:10
    For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
  19. Cross References
    Acts 12:5
    So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
    Romans 15:30
    I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.
    Philippians 1:19
    For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance.
    Philemon 1:22
    At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
  20. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 4:15
    For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
    2 Corinthians 9:11 - 12
    You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
  21. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:10
    You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
    Acts 23:1
    And looking intently at the council, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.
  22. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:17
    For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
    2 Corinthians 4:2
    But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
  23. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 2:4
    And my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
    1 Corinthians 2:13
    And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.