001:015 It was because I entertained this confidence that I intended to visit you before going elsewhere--so that you might receive a twofold proof of God's favour-- 001:016 and to pass by way of Corinth into Macedonia. Then my plan was to return from Macedonia to you, and be helped forward by you to Judaea. 001:017 Did I display any vacillation or caprice in this? Or the purposes which I form--do I form them on worldly principles, now crying "Yes, yes," and now "No, no"? 001:018 As certainly as God is faithful, our language to you is not now "Yes" and now "No." 001:019 For Jesus Christ the Son of God--He who was proclaimed among you by us, that is by Silas and Timothy and myself-- did not show Himself a waverer between "Yes" and "No." But it was and always is "Yes" with Him. 001:020 For all the promises of God, whatever their number, have their confirmation in Him; and for this reason through Him also our "Amen" acknowledges their truth and promotes the glory of God through our faith. 001:021 But He who is making us as well as you stedfast through union with the Anointed One, and has anointed us, is God, 001:022 and He has also set His seal upon us, and has put His Spirit into our hearts as a pledge and foretaste of future blessing. 001:023 But as for me, as my soul shall answer for it, I appeal to God as my witness, that it was to spare you pain that I gave up my visit to Corinth. 001:024 Not that we want to lord it over you in respect of your faith-- we do, however, desire to help your joy--for in the matter of your faith you are standing firm. 002:001 But, so far as I am concerned, I have resolved not to have a painful visit the next time I come to see you. 002:002 For if I of all men give you pain, who then is there to gladden my heart, but the very persons to whom I give pain? 002:003 And I write this to you in order that when I come I may not receive pain from those who ought to give me joy, confident as I am as to all of you that my joy is the joy of you all. 002:004 For with many tears I write to you, and in deep suffering and depression of spirit, not in order to grieve you, but in the hope of showing you how brimful my heart is with love for you. 002:005 Now if any one has caused sorrow, it has been caused not so much to me, as in some degree--for I have no wish to exaggerate-- to all of you. 002:006 In the case of such a person the punishment which was inflicted by the majority of you is enough. 002:007 So that you may now take the opposite course, and forgive him rather and comfort him, for fear he should perhaps be driven to despair by his excess of grief. 002:008 I beg you therefore fully to reinstate him in your love.