2 [1:3]Blessed be the God and lather of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, [1:4]who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those in every affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God, [1:5]because as Christ's sufferings abound in us, so also through Christ does our comfort abound. [1:6]And if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation, wrought by a patient endurance the same sufferings which we also suffer, and our hope for you is strong; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort and salvation, [1:7] knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so you are also of the comfort. 3 [1:8]For we wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, of our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were exceedingly oppressed beyond our power, so that we despaired even of life; [1:9]but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, [1:10]who delivered us from so great a death and will deliver, in whom we hope that he will also still deliver, [1:11]you also striving together for us in prayer, that thanks may be rendered for us by many persons for the gift bestowed on us by many. 4 [1:12]For this is our rejoicing; the testimony of our conscience that in purity and godly sincerity, not with a carnal wisdom, but with a divine grace, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and most abundantly towards you. [1:13]For we do not write to you of other things, but of what you read and acknowledge; and I hope you will also acknowledge to the end, [1:14]as you have also acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus. 5 [1:15]And in this confidence I wished to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit, [1:16]and to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again from Macedonia to you, and by you to be sent forward to Judea. [1:17] Wishing this therefore, did I use lightness? or what I wish do I wish according to the flesh, that with me there may be the yes, yes, and the no, no? [1:18]But as God is faithful, our word to you was not yes and no. [1:19]For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was preached among you by us, by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but was yes in him; [1:20]for all the promises of God, the yes in him, and the Amen in him, are for glory to God by us. [1:21]And he that establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God, [1:22] who has also sealed us and given us the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.