2 Corinthians 1:1-24, NLT
2 Corinthians 1
Greetings from Paul
1This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
I am writing to God’s church in Corinth and to all of his holy people throughout Greece.*1:1 Greek Achaia, the southern region of the Greek peninsula.
2May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
God Offers Comfort to All
3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
8We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,*1:8 Greek brothers. about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.
Paul’s Change of Plans
12We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness*1:12 Some manuscripts read honesty. and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.
15Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice—
17You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”?
21It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us,
23Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke.