2Cor 1
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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the
church of God which is at Corinth, together with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
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Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and
God of all comfort,
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who comforts us in all our tribulation, so that we may be able to comfort those who
are in any affliction, by means of the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted
by God.
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Because just as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds
through Christ.
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Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective
for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer.
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(And our hope concerning you is steadfast); if we are comforted, it is for your consolation
and salvation, knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, thus also [you
will partake] of the consolation.
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For we do not desire you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning our affliction which
happened to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, beyond our strength,
so that we despaired even of life.
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Yes, we have had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves
but in God who raises the dead,
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who delivered us from so great a death, and is delivering [us]; in whom we trust that
He will still deliver [us],
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you also laboring together for us in prayer, that thanks may be given by many persons
on your behalf for the gift [given] to us through many.
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For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that we have conducted
ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom
but by the grace of God, and especially toward you.
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For we do not write other things to you except what you read or also understand. And
I hope that you will understand, even until the end
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just as also you have understood us in part, that we are your boasting, as indeed
you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.
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And in this confidence I intended to come to you earlier, that you might have a second
benefit,
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and through you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and
by you to be sent on to Judea.
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Therefore, when I decided this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I decide, do I
decide according to the flesh, that there may be with me "Yes, Yes,"and "No, No?"
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But [as ]God [is] faithful, our word unto you was not "Yes and no."
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For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us-by me, Silvanus,
and Timothy-was not "Yes and no,"but in Him was "Yes."
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For all the promises of God in Him [are] "Yes,"and in Him "Amen,"to the glory of God
through us.
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Now He who establishes us together with you in Christ and who has anointed us is God,
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who also has sealed us, and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
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Moreover I call upon God as a witness against my soul, that in order to spare you,
I came no more to Corinth.
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Not that we lord it over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith
you stand.