FROM Paul, who, as God [the Self-existent] wills, is an ambassador of Jesus the Anointed, and Timothy our brother: To God’s [the Self-existent’s] church at Corinth, with all the saints throughout Achaia.

Grace be multiplied to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Self-existent [the Son of man], Jesus the Anointed.

Thanks be to God and Father of our Sovereign Master, Jesus the Anointed, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.

He comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to comfort those in any kind of affliction through the comfort that we receive from Him. 

This is because as the sufferings of Jesus the Anointed overflow to us, so through Jesus the Anointed, our comfort also overflows to the brethren.

If we are afflicted, it is that you might be comforted and rescued from perdition; and if we are comforted, it is for the same purpose, which produces in you, patient endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.

Our hope for you is sure; we know that as you share in the sufferings you will share in the comfort.

We don’t want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction that took place in Asia: We were completely overwhelmed — beyond our strength — so that we even despaired of life. 

Indeed, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves; because of that, we would not trust in ourselves but in God [the Self-existent] who raises the dead. 

He delivered us from a death of such magnitude and still delivers us. We have put our hope in Him that He will deliver us again

as you support us with your prayers. Then many will give thanks to God [the Self-existent] on our behalf for the deliverance which will be given to us through the prayers of many.

This one thing makes us glad: Our clear conscience that we have conducted ourselves in the world and especially toward you, with God-enabled sincerity and purity, not by carnal wisdom – but by God’s [the Self-existent’s] grace. 

Now, we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand well

seeing that you have only a partial knowledge of us — that we are your reason for pride, as you shall be ours, in the day that our Sovereign Master, Jesus, shall return.

I planned in this confidence to come to you first, so you could have double benefit: 

To go to Macedonia with your help and return from there to be accompanied by you as I leave for the region of Judah. 

So, when I planned this, was I unserious? Or, what I planned, did I plan it carnally, meaning that I was joking?

As God [the Self-existent] is faithful, our message to you is not a joke. 

The Son of God, Jesus the Anointed, who was preached among you by us — me, Silvanus and Timothy —  does not  joke. He says what He means. 

We glorify God that all His promises to us who  are under Him [the Anointed], are certain.

Now, God [the Self-existent] is the one who strengthens all of us under Jesus the Anointed, and has anointed us.

He has, in addition, sealed us, putting holy spirit [the breath of the Holy Spirit] inside our hearts as a pledge.

I call  God [the Self-existent] as my witness: I did not come to Corinth so that you would not see my frowning. 

It is not that we have control over your faith, we are, only, helpers of your joy; faith upholds you.