Paul, (1) 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: (1) See the declaration of such salutations in the former epistles.... [ Continue Reading ]
(2) (a) Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of (b) mercies, and the God of all comfort; (2) He begins after this manner with thanksgiving, which nonetheless (otherwise than he was accustomed to) he applies to himself: beginning his epistle with the setting forth o... [ Continue Reading ]
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, (3) that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (3) The Lord comforts us to this end and purpose, that we may so much the more surely comfort others.... [ Continue Reading ]
For as the (c) sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (c) The miseries which we suffer for Christ, or which Christ suffers in us.... [ Continue Reading ]
(4) And whether we be afflicted, [it is] for your consolation and salvation, which is (d) effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, [it is] for your consolation and salvation. (4) He denies that either his afflictions with which he was often... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) For 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 (e) despaired even of life: (5) He witnesses that he is not ashamed of his afflictions, and further that he desires also to have all men k... [ Continue Reading ]
But we had the sentence of death in (f) ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: (f) I was resolved within myself to die.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who delivered us from so (g) great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us]; (g) From these great dangers.... [ Continue Reading ]
(6) Ye also helping together by prayer for us, (7) that for the gift [bestowed] upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. (6) That he may not seem to boast of himself, he attributes all to God, and in so doing also confesses that he attributes much to the praye... [ Continue Reading ]
(8) For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly (h) sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the (i) grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. (8) Secondly, he dismisses another slander, that is, that he... [ Continue Reading ]
For we write (k) none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the (l) end; (k) He says that he writes plainly and simply: for he that writes in an elaborate way, is rightly said to write otherwise than we read. And this, he says, the Corinth... [ Continue Reading ]
As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your (m) rejoicing, even as ye also [are] ours in the (n) day of the Lord Jesus. (m) Paul's rejoicing in the Lord was that he had won the Corinthians: and they themselves rejoiced that such an apostle was their instructor, and taught them so pure... [ Continue Reading ]
And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a (o) second benefit; (o) Another benefit.... [ Continue Reading ]
(9) When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the (p) flesh, that with me there should be (q) yea yea, and nay nay? (9) He dismisses their slander and false report by denying it, and first of all in that different ones went about... [ Continue Reading ]
(10) But [as] God [is] (r) true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. (10) He calls God as witness and as judge of his constancy in preaching and teaching one self same Gospel. (r) True, and of whose faithful witness it would be horribly wicked to doubt.... [ Continue Reading ]
(11) For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, [even] by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, (s) was not yea and nay, but in (t) him was yea. (11) He adds also with himself his companions, as witnesses with whom he fully consented in teaching the same thing, that is, the same C... [ Continue Reading ]
(12) For all the promises of God in him [are] yea, and in (u) him Amen, unto the glory of God by (x) us. (12) Last of all he declares the sum of his doctrine, that is, that all the promises of salvation are sure and ratified in Christ. (u) Christ is set also forth to exhibit and fulfil them most a... [ Continue Reading ]
(13) Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God; (13) He attributes the praise of this constancy only to the grace of God, through the Holy Spirit. In addition he concludes that they cannot doubt of his faith and his fellows, without doing injury to the Spirit of... [ Continue Reading ]
Who hath also sealed us, and given the (y) earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (y) An earnest is whatever is given to confirm a promise.... [ Continue Reading ]
(14) Moreover I call God for a record upon my (z) soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. (14) Now coming to the matter, he swears that he did not lightly alter his purpose of coming to them, but rather that he did not come to them for this reason, that he, being present, might not... [ Continue Reading ]
(15) Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your (a) joy: for by faith ye stand. (15) He removes all suspicion of arrogance, declaring that he speaks not as a lord to them, but as a servant, appointed by God to comfort them. (a) He sets the joy and peace of conscience, w... [ Continue Reading ]