2 Corinthians
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
2 Corinthians 1
2 Corinthians 1
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia:
1Paul, 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:
Commentary · verse 1
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 4who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed 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.
Commentary · verses 2-4
One of the purposes of this letter was to comfort the church in Corinth after the corrections presented in the previous letter. God comforts us in our affliction so that we can comfort others in their affliction by the comfort we receive of God.
5For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ.
6But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: 7and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort.
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.
7And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
Commentary · verses 5-7
Doctrine: Suffering abounds to those who are mature in Christ. Notice, Paul addressed this within the first three sentences of this letter.
8For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
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:
Commentary · verse 8
Paul told the Corinthians of his troubles in Asia.
9yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead:
9But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
Commentary · verse 9
The trouble they endured caused them to trust in God more. Affliction caused their faith to grow, which is good and to be desired.
10who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us; 11ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf.
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.
Commentary · verses 10-11
The gifts the Corinthians gave to Paul (and those with him) helped him be delivered from the afflictions they endured. The Corinthians' gifts comforted Paul and those with him.
12For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
13For we write no other things unto you, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge unto the end: 14as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
15And in this confidence I was minded to come first unto you, that ye might have a second benefit; 16and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto Judæa.
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.
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.
15And 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 Judea.
Commentary · verses 12-16
Paul desired to go to Corinth again for their benefit because he recognized the benefit he received from them. Paul also referenced the theme from his introduction in the previous letter: worldly wisdom vs. spiritual wisdom through grace.
17When I therefore was thus minded, did I show fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay?
18But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay.
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.
Commentary · verses 17-18
Paul stated he had not been fickle like people in the world. Paul kept his word.
19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea.
20For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us.
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.
Commentary · verses 19-20
Paul stated that he was following Jesus' example, who also kept His Word.
21Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; 22who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
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.
Commentary · verses 21-22
They (Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy) were established and anointed by God, along with the believers in the church at Corinth. Also, they were sealed and given the earnest in their hearts, as is everyone with the Holy Spirit dwelling in their hearts (believers). The word "earnest" was the down payment, more specifically: like an engagement ring. The Holy Spirit in us is the engagement ring or a seal/symbol of what will be: the Bride's (Church's) Marriage to Jesus in the new Jerusalem.
23But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.
24Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in faith ye stand fast.
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.
Commentary · verses 23-24
Theme of Chapter 1: Paul introduced the mature themes of comfort and affliction to the church in Corinth. Paul also stated that he was a man of his word just as Jesus was a man of His Word.
Paul was an apostle by the Will of God. Just as Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 4, apostles are ordained by God. Timothy was with Paul during the writing of this letter. In the previous letter, Paul stated Timothy was in Macedonia, which was where Paul was during the writing of this letter.