2 Corinthians

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:

1This letter is from Paul. God chose Paul to be an apostle, one of the men Jesus sent out to tell about him. Timothy, our brother, writes with me. We write to God's church in the city of Corinth. We write to all of God's people in the whole area called Achaia.

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

2We pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you. We pray they will give you peace.

3Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

3We praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is a Father who is full of kindness. He is the God who comforts us every time.

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.

4God comforts us in all our hard times. Then we can comfort other people who are in any trouble. We share with them the same comfort God gave us.

5For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

5We suffer many hard things because we belong to Christ. But through Christ we also get much comfort.

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.

6When we suffer, it is to help you. It brings you comfort and God's saving help. When we are comforted, that helps you too. That comfort helps you keep going through the same hard things we go through.

7And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

7Our hope for you is strong and sure. You share in the same suffering we have. So you will share in the comfort too.

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:

8Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about our trouble in Asia. It was far too heavy for us to carry. We did not think we would stay alive.

NoteAsia here does not mean the whole continent. It means a Roman area in the land we now call Turkey.

9But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

9Inside, we felt like men already told they must die. This taught us not to trust in ourselves. We learned to trust God, who brings dead people back to life.

10Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

10God saved us from that terrible death. He is saving us now. We trust that he will save us again.

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.

11You help us when you pray for us. God has been kind to us because many people prayed. So many people will thank God for what he did for us.

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.

12We are glad about one thing. Deep inside, we know it is true. We have lived in an honest and open way. That came from God, not from our own clever ideas. God was kind and helped us live like this. We lived this way with everyone, and even more with you.

NoteThe old word here is "conversation." In 1611 that word meant the way a person lives, not just talking.

13For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;

13We only write things you can read and understand. I hope you will understand us all the way through.

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.

14You already understand us a little. One day you will be proud of us, and we will be proud of you. That will be on the day when the Lord Jesus comes.

15And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

15I was sure of this. So I planned to visit you first, so you would be helped two times.

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.

16I planned to stop and see you on my way to Macedonia. Then I would come back to you from Macedonia. Then you could help me on my way to 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?

17When I made that plan, was I being careless? Do I make plans the way people do who please only themselves? Do I say yes when I really mean no?

18But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

18God always keeps his word. In the same way, what we said to you was not yes and no at the same time.

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.

19We told you about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Silvanus, Timothy, and I told you about him. He was never yes and no. In him the answer is always yes.

20For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

20God has made many promises. In Jesus, all of them are yes. So we say Amen, which means yes, this is true. This brings honor to God.

21Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

21God is the one who keeps us strong with you in Christ. He chose us and set us apart for himself.

22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

22He also put his own mark on us, to show that we are his. And he put his Spirit in our hearts. The Spirit is God's promise that more is coming.

NoteThe old word here is "earnest." It means a first payment that promises the rest will come.

23Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

23I ask God to be my witness that I am telling the truth. I have not come back to Corinth yet. I stayed away so I would not have to be hard on you.

24Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

24We are not bosses over what you believe. We work with you to make you glad. You stand firm because you trust God.