Paul Greets the Corinthians
(Acts 18:1–11; 1 Corinthians 1:1–3)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2Ti 1:1Eph 1:1Php 1:1Tit 1:11Co 16:101Co 6:111Th 1:7-81Ti 1:1
To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 1:7Eph 6:23Php 1:2Phm 1:31Ch 12:181Co 1:31Th 1:12Th 1:2
The God of All Comfort
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Eph 1:31Pe 1:3Rom 15:5-6Mic 7:18Psa 86:5Dan 9:9Eph 1:17Psa 86:15 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 1Th 5:112Th 2:16-17Isa 51:122Co 7:6-7Isa 40:1Psa 32:7Jhn 14:18Heb 12:12 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. Col 1:24Php 3:102Th 2:16-17Php 1:202Co 4:10-11Php 2:11Co 4:10-132Co 11:23-30
If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which accomplishes in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we experience. 2Ti 2:102Co 4:15-182Co 1:4Eph 3:13Php 1:19Rom 8:282Co 5:52Co 12:15 And our hope for you is sure, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort. Rom 8:17-182Th 1:4-7Jas 1:121Th 1:3-4Jas 1:2-42Ti 2:121Co 10:132Co 1:14
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. 1 We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 2Co 4:7-121Co 15:321Co 4:81Co 16:9Act 19:23-351Sa 27:11Sa 20:3 Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead. 2Co 3:52Co 4:7Heb 11:192Co 12:7-10Rom 4:17-25Job 40:14Psa 44:5-7Ezk 37:1-14
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us, 1Ti 4:102Pe 2:9Psa 34:191Sa 17:372Ti 4:17Rom 15:31Act 26:211Sa 7:12 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers. Php 1:192Co 4:15Act 12:5Col 4:32Th 3:1Heb 13:18Phm 1:22Rom 15:30-32
Paul’s Change of Plans
And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly 2wisdom, but in the grace of God. 1Co 2:132Co 2:17Jas 3:13-181Th 2:101Co 15:101Pe 3:212Co 12:15-192Co 4:2 For we do not write you anything that is beyond your ability to read and understand. And I hope that you will understand us completely, 2Co 4:2Phm 1:62Co 13:62Co 5:11 as you have already understood us in part, so that you may boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of our Lord Jesus. 3 1Th 2:19-20Php 2:161Co 1:81Th 3:13Php 1:10Php 4:11Th 5:23Php 1:6
Confident of this, I planned to visit you first, so that you might receive a double blessing. Rom 1:11Rom 15:291Co 4:191Co 11:342Co 6:1Php 1:25-26 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to return to you from Macedonia, and then to have you help me on my way to Judea. 1Co 16:5-7Act 19:21-22Act 21:5
When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” when I really mean “No, no”? Mat 5:37Jas 5:122Co 10:2-32Co 1:18-20Jhn 8:15Jer 23:322Co 1:12Jdg 9:4 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 1Co 1:9Rev 3:7Jhn 7:28Rev 3:142Co 1:232Co 11:312Co 2:17Jhn 8:26 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus 4and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.” Heb 13:82Jn 1:9Rev 1:17Rev 1:81Jn 5:20Rev 2:18Act 18:51Jn 1:3 For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God. 1Jn 2:24-25Gal 3:22Rev 7:12Heb 13:8Eph 1:6Eph 1:12-14Rev 3:14Rom 11:36
Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us, 1Jn 2:271Jn 2:201Pe 5:10Rom 8:9Isa 61:12Th 3:3Isa 9:72Co 5:5 placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come. Eph 4:302Co 5:5Eph 1:13-14Jhn 6:27Rom 8:14-16Rev 9:4Rom 8:23Rom 8:9 I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. Gal 1:201Co 4:212Co 13:102Co 13:2Rom 1:92Co 10:6-112Co 12:20Php 1:8 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that you stand firm. 1Pe 5:31Co 15:12Ti 2:24-262Co 4:5Php 1:25-26Rom 5:2Mat 23:8-10Mat 24:49