2 Corinthians 1

King James Version

Full text for 2 Corinthians Chapter 1

1¶ Paul, 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.

3¶ Blessed [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.

7¶ And 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.

12¶ For 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.

15¶ And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Paul and Timothy greet the Corinthian church, emphasizing God as the source of all comfort in tribulation, enabling them to comfort others. Paul recounts a severe affliction in Asia, which taught him to trust in God alone for deliverance, and he defends his integrity and consistency regarding his travel plans. He explains his delayed visit was to spare them, affirming his role as a helper of their joy, not a dominator of their faith.

Medium Summary

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, and Timothy address the church at Corinth, extending grace and peace. He blesses God as the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, explaining that divine comfort in affliction prepares believers to console others. Paul shares his profound suffering in Asia, where he despaired of life, but learned to trust in God who raises the dead, acknowledging the Corinthians' prayers for his deliverance. He asserts his conduct has been marked by godly sincerity and grace, not worldly wisdom, and defends his change of travel plans, stating his word, like Christ's, is consistently "yea." Paul explains that God establishes, anoints, and seals believers with the Spirit as an earnest. Finally, he clarifies that his delayed visit to Corinth was intended to spare them, emphasizing his role as a helper of their joy, for they stand by faith, rather than exercising dominion over it.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with a salutation from Paul, an apostle by God's will, and Timothy, to the church in Corinth and all the saints in Achaia, conveying grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul immediately blesses God as the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who provides solace in all tribulations. This divine comfort, he explains, is not solely for personal relief but enables believers to extend comfort to others in their troubles, mirroring the comfort they themselves receive from God. He asserts that both their sufferings and their consolations, which abound through Christ, are for the Corinthians' consolation and salvation, fostering a shared hope in both affliction and comfort. Paul then recounts a severe trial endured in Asia, where he and his companions were pressed beyond measure, even despairing of life, leading them to rely not on themselves but on God, who raises the dead, and who delivered them. He expresses confidence in God's continued deliverance, attributing this in part to the Corinthians' prayers, which facilitate thanksgiving for the grace bestowed. Paul defends his conduct, stating his rejoicing stems from a conscience testifying to simplicity and godly sincerity, not fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, particularly in his interactions with them. He trusts they acknowledge his integrity and that they are a mutual source of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus. Addressing his altered travel plans, Paul clarifies that his purpose was not fickle or "yea and nay," but consistent, just as Jesus Christ, preached by him and his companions, was not "yea and nay," but in Him was "yea." He affirms that all God's promises find their "yea" and "Amen" in Christ, to God's glory. Paul further states that God is the one who establishes, anoints, and seals believers in Christ, giving the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts. He concludes by solemnly calling God as a witness that his delay in coming to Corinth was to spare them, not to assert dominion over their faith, but to be a helper of their joy, recognizing that they stand by faith.

Core Concepts

  • Divine ComfortGod is the "Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort" (v.3), who provides solace in tribulation, enabling believers to comfort others with the same comfort they have received.
  • Suffering and DeliverancePaul recounts a severe affliction in Asia where he despaired of life, teaching him to trust solely in God, "which raiseth the dead" (v.9), for deliverance, both past, present, and future.
  • Apostolic IntegrityPaul defends his conduct and word, asserting that he has lived and written with "simplicity and godly sincerity" (v.12), not by fleshly wisdom, and that his promises are consistent, like the "yea" of Christ.
  • The "Yea" of ChristJesus Christ is presented as the embodiment of God's faithfulness, in whom "all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen" (v.20), signifying the certainty and fulfillment of divine promises.
  • The Earnest of the SpiritGod is described as the one who "hath anointed us," "sealed us," and given "the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts" (vv.21-22), signifying a divine guarantee and down payment of future inheritance.
  • Helpers of JoyPaul clarifies his role not as one who has "dominion over your faith" (v.24), but as a "helper of your joy," emphasizing support and encouragement rather than control, as believers stand by faith.