New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
2 Corinthians 1
1
I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. Timothy our brother joins me in writing. We are sending this letter to you, the members of God's church in Corinth. It is also for all of God's people everywhere in Achaia.
Reference
Holy
Ephesians 1:1
Philippians 1:1
1 Corinthians 6:11
Parallel theme
Acts 16:1
1 Corinthians 16:10
References Jesus
2 Timothy 1:1
Titus 1:1
1 Timothy 1:1
Galatians 1:1
3
Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father who gives tender love. All comfort comes from him.
Reference
Blessing
Ephesians 1:3
1 Peter 1:3
2 Corinthians 11:31
References Christ
2 John 1:9
References God
Micah 7:18
Daniel 9:9
Psalm 86:15
References Jesus
Philippians 2:11
Ephesians 1:17
References Lord
Psalm 86:5
4
He comforts us in all our troubles. Now we can comfort others when they are in trouble. We ourselves have received comfort from God.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Isaiah 51:12
Psalm 32:7
John 14:16
Hebrews 12:12
John 14:18
Isaiah 12:1
Isaiah 52:9
Psalm 32:5
References God
Isaiah 40:1
6
If we are having trouble, it is so that you will be comforted and renewed. If we are comforted, it is so that you will be comforted. Then you will be able to put up with the same suffering we have gone through.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 1:4
Romans 8:28
2 Corinthians 5:5
Ephesians 3:13
Salvation
2 Timothy 2:10
Philippians 1:19
7
Our hope for you remains firm. We know that you suffer just as we do. In the same way, God comforts you just as he comforts us.
Reference
8
Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the hard times we suffered in Asia Minor. We were having a lot of trouble. It was far more than we could stand. We even thought we were going to die.
Reference
9
In fact, in our hearts we felt as if we were under the sentence of death. But that happened so that we would not depend on ourselves but on God. He raises the dead to life.
Reference
Faith
Luke 18:9
Proverbs 28:26
Ezekiel 33:13
Parallel theme
Job 40:14
Psalm 22:29
References God
2 Corinthians 3:5
2 Corinthians 4:7
Resurrection
Hebrews 11:19
10
God has saved us from deadly dangers. And he will continue to do it. We have put our hope in him. He will continue to save us.
Reference
Faith
1 Timothy 4:10
Romans 15:31
Parallel theme
2 Peter 2:9
Psalm 34:19
1 Samuel 17:37
Acts 26:21
2 Timothy 4:17
Isaiah 46:3
1 Samuel 7:12
11
You must help us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because of what will happen to us. They will thank God for his kindness to us in answer to the prayers of many.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 4:15
Prayer
Philippians 1:19
Acts 12:5
Hebrews 13:18
Colossians 4:3
2 Thessalonians 3:1
Philemon 1:22
12
Here is what we take pride in. Our sense of what is right and wrong gives witness that we have acted in God's holy and honest ways. That is how we live in the world. We live that way most of all when we are dealing with you. Our way of living is not wise in the eyes of the world. But it is in keeping with God's grace.
Reference
Grace
1 Corinthians 15:10
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 2:13
Hebrews 13:18
Job 13:15
References God
Acts 23:1
Acts 24:16
2 Corinthians 4:2
Sin
2 Corinthians 2:17
2 Corinthians 8:8
Witness
1 Thessalonians 2:10
14
Up to this point you have understood some of the things we have said. But now I hope that someday you will be able to take pride in us, just as we will take pride in you on the day the Lord Jesus returns. When you are able to do that, you will understand us completely.
Reference
Parallel theme
Philippians 2:16
Philippians 1:10
Romans 11:25
2 Corinthians 5:12
2 Corinthians 2:5
References Jesus
1 Corinthians 1:8
1 Thessalonians 3:13
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Philippians 1:6
References Lord
Philippians 4:1
15
I was sure of those things. So I planned to visit you first. Here is how I thought you would be helped twice.
Reference
16
I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia. I would have come back to you from there. Then you would have sent me on my way to Judea.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 21:5
17
When I planned all of that, did I do it without much thought? No. I don't make my plans the way the world makes theirs. In the same breath the world says, "Yes! Yes!" and "No! No!"
Reference
19
Silas, Timothy and I preached to you about the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Our message did not say "Yes" and "No" at the same time. The message of Christ has always been "Yes."
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 1:8
Revelation 1:17
Revelation 1:11
Hebrews 1:11
Acts 15:22
References Christ
2 John 1:9
References God
Revelation 2:18
References Jesus
Hebrews 13:8
Acts 18:5
1 John 5:20
20
God has made a great many promises. They are all "Yes" because of what Christ has done. So through Christ we say "Amen." We want God to receive glory.
Reference
Covenant
Galatians 3:22
Hebrews 11:13
Glory
Revelation 7:12
Ephesians 1:6
Romans 11:36
Parallel theme
Hebrews 13:8
Ephesians 2:7
References God
Revelation 3:14
Romans 6:23
Isaiah 65:16
21
He makes both us and you stand firm because we belong to Christ. He anointed us.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 John 2:27
1 John 2:20
Isaiah 9:7
2 Thessalonians 3:3
Isaiah 62:7
Isaiah 49:8
References Christ
1 Peter 5:10
Romans 8:9
References God
Isaiah 61:1
Acts 10:38
22
He put his Spirit in our hearts and marked us as his own. We can now be sure that he will give us everything he promised us.
Reference
23
I call God as my witness. I wanted to spare you. So I didn't return to Corinth.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 4:21
2 Corinthians 13:10
2 Corinthians 13:2
2 Corinthians 12:20
References God
Galatians 1:20
Romans 1:9
Philippians 1:8
Summary of 2 Corinthians 1
2 Corinthians 1 describes Paul's suffering, God's comfort, the severe danger Paul experienced in Asia, his dependence upon God rather than himself, and his explanation of changed travel plans to Corinth, while emphasizing that God's promises are completely reliable through Jesus Christ and that Christian leaders should strengthen believers rather than dominate their faith.
Paul begins by introducing himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ and addressing the church in Corinth and throughout Achaia.
He immediately focuses on God's character as the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.
Paul explains that God comforts His servants during suffering so that they can later use that same comfort to encourage other people experiencing difficulties.
This gives suffering a different meaning.
Paul's hardships are not simply meaningless pain.
They become experiences through which he learns deeper dependence upon God and becomes better equipped to encourage others.
Paul then describes an extremely serious experience in Asia.
The pressure became so overwhelming that Paul and his companions believed they might die.
Rather than relying on their own strength, they learned to depend completely upon God.
Paul describes God as the One who raises the dead.
God ultimately delivered Paul from that deadly situation.
Because of God's past faithfulness, Paul remains confident that God will continue to rescue him.
He also asks the Corinthians to participate through prayer, showing that Paul's ministry is not presented as an individual effort but as something supported by the prayers of fellow believers.
Paul then addresses concerns about his character and ministry.
Some people apparently questioned his sincerity because he had changed his plans to visit Corinth.
Paul explains that his conduct had not been based upon worldly motives or careless promises.
His message about Christ was not uncertain or contradictory.
Instead, God is faithful, and the message Paul preached reflects that faithfulness.
Paul then gives one of the chapter's important statements about God's promises.
All God's promises find their “Yes” in Christ.
Because Christ confirms God's promises, believers can respond with confidence and thanksgiving.
Paul also explains that God has established believers in Christ, sealed them, and given them the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of what is still to come.
The Holy Spirit therefore provides believers with present assurance of God's future promises.
Finally, Paul explains why he changed his travel plans.
He did not want to return to Corinth simply to cause another painful confrontation.
Paul emphasizes that he does not seek to control the Corinthians' faith.
Instead, he wants to work alongside them so that they can experience genuine joy and remain strong in their faith.
2 Corinthians 1 teaches that God faithfully comforts His people through suffering so that they can comfort others, and because God's promises are confirmed through Christ and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit, believers can depend upon Him rather than themselves while Christian leaders are called to serve people's faith with humility, sincerity, patience, and genuine concern rather than attempting to control them.
Paul begins by introducing himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ and addressing the church in Corinth and throughout Achaia.
He immediately focuses on God's character as the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.
Paul explains that God comforts His servants during suffering so that they can later use that same comfort to encourage other people experiencing difficulties.
This gives suffering a different meaning.
Paul's hardships are not simply meaningless pain.
They become experiences through which he learns deeper dependence upon God and becomes better equipped to encourage others.
Paul then describes an extremely serious experience in Asia.
The pressure became so overwhelming that Paul and his companions believed they might die.
Rather than relying on their own strength, they learned to depend completely upon God.
Paul describes God as the One who raises the dead.
God ultimately delivered Paul from that deadly situation.
Because of God's past faithfulness, Paul remains confident that God will continue to rescue him.
He also asks the Corinthians to participate through prayer, showing that Paul's ministry is not presented as an individual effort but as something supported by the prayers of fellow believers.
Paul then addresses concerns about his character and ministry.
Some people apparently questioned his sincerity because he had changed his plans to visit Corinth.
Paul explains that his conduct had not been based upon worldly motives or careless promises.
His message about Christ was not uncertain or contradictory.
Instead, God is faithful, and the message Paul preached reflects that faithfulness.
Paul then gives one of the chapter's important statements about God's promises.
All God's promises find their “Yes” in Christ.
Because Christ confirms God's promises, believers can respond with confidence and thanksgiving.
Paul also explains that God has established believers in Christ, sealed them, and given them the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of what is still to come.
The Holy Spirit therefore provides believers with present assurance of God's future promises.
Finally, Paul explains why he changed his travel plans.
He did not want to return to Corinth simply to cause another painful confrontation.
Paul emphasizes that he does not seek to control the Corinthians' faith.
Instead, he wants to work alongside them so that they can experience genuine joy and remain strong in their faith.
2 Corinthians 1 teaches that God faithfully comforts His people through suffering so that they can comfort others, and because God's promises are confirmed through Christ and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit, believers can depend upon Him rather than themselves while Christian leaders are called to serve people's faith with humility, sincerity, patience, and genuine concern rather than attempting to control them.