¶ Paul an apostle of Iesus Christ by the will of God, and brother Timotheus.
¶ Unto the congregation of God, which is at Corinthum, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.
¶ Blessed be God the father of our Lord Iesus the Christ, father of mercy, and the God of all comfort, which comforteth us in all our tribulation, insomuch that we are able to comfort them which are troubled, in whatsoever tribulation it be, with the same comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God. For as the afflictions of Christ are plenteous in us: even so is our consolation plenteous by Christ.
¶ Whether we be troubled for your consolation, and health, which health sheweth her power in that ye suffer the same afflictions which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted for your consolation and health: yet our hope is steadfast for you inasmuch as we know how that as ye have your part in afflictions, so shall ye be part takers of consolation.
¶ Brethren I would not have you ignorant of our trouble, which happened unto us in Asia. For we were grieved out of measure passing strength, so greatly that we despaired even of life. Also we received an answer of death in ourselves, and that was done because we should not put our trust in ourselves: but in God, which raiseth the dead to life again: Which delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver, on whom we trust, that yet hereafter he will deliver us, by the help of your prayer for us: That by the means of many occasions, thanks may be given of many on our behalf, For the grace given unto us.
¶ Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we with out doubleness, but with godly pureness: not in fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, have had our conversation in the world, and most of all to youwards. We write no other things unto you, than that ye read and also know. Yea and I trust ye shall find us unto the end even as ye have found us partly, for we are your rejoicing, even as ye are ours in the day of the Lord Iesus.
¶ And in this confidence was I minded the other time to have come unto you (that ye might have had a double pleasure,) and to have passed by you into Macedonia, and to have come again out of Macedonia unto you, and to have been led forth to Jewryward of you.
¶ When I thuswise was minded: Did I use lightness? Or think I carnally those things which I think? that with me should be yea yea, and nay nay. God is faithful: For our preaching unto you, was not yea and nay. For Goddis son Iesus Christ which was preached among you by us (that is to say by me and Silvanus and Thimotheus) was not yea and nay: but in him it was Yea: For all the promises of God, in him are Yea: and are in him Amen, unto the laud of God thorow us. It is God which stablisheth us and you in Christ, and hath anointed us, which hath also sealed us, and hath given the earnest of the spirit into our hearts.
¶ I call God for a record unto my soul, that for to favor you with all, I came not any more unto Corinthum. Not that we be lords over your faith: but helpers of your joy. For by faith ye stand.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526