{{ Introduction to 2 Corinthians 58-59 AD

            Paul continues his battle with those who think of themselves too highly and states he did not come to them right then to spare them. He was giving them a chance to repent. About three chapters are spent showing his authority from Jesus, and how good they had life in comparison to the apostles’ ‘verdict’ of death. In chapters 6 and 11, he talks about how difficult the conditions were for those who had ministered to the Corinthians, but all of it was for the sake of the Corinthians and others. He gave various encouragements: all in life are temporary; hope for a new body in heaven; in salvation, a new creation; you^° are in our hearts, etc. ‘You^° are not distressed by us, but you^° are distressed by your^° own affections’ in 6:11 sums it up for them.

            Then Paul describes a relief that many of the congregations had put together for the poor holy-ones (8:1–9:15) in Jerusalem, one of many mentioned in the New Testament. Many congregations were assigned and cooperated due to the high possibility of robbers (food during a drought is more valuable than gold). Then in chapter 10, he redirects his letter to rebuke one or many ‘who reason us as walking according-to the flesh.’ He tells the Corinthians they should have already done this at the beginning of 10:2. In 11, he talks to the Corinthians as he did to the Galatians about anyone adding in another good-news or teaching not in the bible is a false teacher. Adding into the Good News ‘it doesn’t say not to’ is just as bad as excluding parts of the Bible. Paul continues his sarcasm in 12 and then his rebuke in 13 ‘not sparing’ them when he comes.}}

             ^1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God and Timothy our brother, to the congregation^* of God, she who is in Corinth, together-with all the holy-ones who are in the whole of Achaia: ^1:2 grace to you^° and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

             ^1:3 Gracious^* is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of the mercies and God of all encouragement; ^1:4 who is encouraging us in our every affliction, ^*that^* we may be able to encourage the ones in every affliction, through the encouragement of which we ourselves are encouraged by God. ^1:5 Because just-as the sufferings of the Christ abound to us, so our encouragement also abounds through the Christ, ^1:6 but whether we are afflicted, it is on behalf of your^° encouragement and salvation; the one working in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also are suffering; and our hope is steadfast on your^° behalf. If we are encouraged, it is on behalf of your^° encouragement and salvation, ^1:7 knowing that, just-like you^° are partners of the sufferings, so you^° are also of the comfort. ^1:8 For^* brethren, we do not wish you^° to be ignorant in regard to our affliction, the one which happened to us in Asia, that we were burdened down surpassingly, beyond our power, so-then for us to be utterly despairing even to being alive. ^1:9 But, we ourselves have had the verdict of the death in ourselves, in-order-that we should not be having confidence upon ourselves, but upon God, the one raising up the dead; ^1:10 who rescued us out-of so-great a death and is rescuing us; in whom we have hoped that he will also still be rescuing us. ^1:11 You^° are also working together on our behalf by your^° supplication; in-order-that the gift^* to us from many faces {i.e., mouths} might be a giving-thanks through many people on your^° behalf.

             ^1:12 For^* this is our boasting, the testimony of our conscience, that in clarity and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we conducted ourselves in the world and even-more toward you^°. ^1:13 For^* we are writing no other things to you^°, but what you^° are reading or even what you^° know. Now I hope that you^° will fully know these things we write until the end; ^1:14 just-as you^° also recognized us partially, that we are your^° boasting, just-as you^° are also ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

             ^1:15 And in this confidence, I was planning to come to you^° beforehand in-order-that you^° may have a second favor from me; ^1:16 and through you^° to go through into Macedonia, and away from Macedonia to come to you^° again and to be sent onward to Judea by you^°. ^1:17 Therefore, while planning this thing, I did not then use fickleness, did I? Or what I plan, do I plan those things according-to the flesh, in-order-that there should be from me the yes, yes and the no, no? ^1:18 But because God is faithful, that our word toward you^° did not become yes and no. ^1:19 For^* the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you^° through us, that is, through me and Silvanus and Timothy, did not become yes and no, but in him it has become yes. ^1:20 For^* as many things as are the promises of God, in him is the yes and in him is the amen, for glory to God through us. ^1:21 Now he who is confirming us together-with you^° in Christ and anointed us is God, ^1:22 who also sealed us and gave us the down-payment of the Spirit in our hearts.

             ^1:23 Now I myself call upon God as a witness upon my soul, that I came into Corinth no longer sparing you^°. ^1:24 Not that we have lordship over your^° faith, but are fellow workers of your^° joy; for^* you^° are standing in the faith.