1. From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am an apostle because that is what God wanted.Also from Timothy our brother in Christ.To the church of God in Corinth, and to all of God’s people in the whole country of Southern Greece:
2. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy. And he is the God of all comfort.
4. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so that we can comfort others when they have trouble. We can comfort them with the same comfort that God gives us.
5. We share in the many sufferings of Christ. In the same way, much comfort comes to us through Christ.
6. If we have troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we have comfort, then you also have comfort. This helps you to accept patiently the same sufferings that we have.
7. Our hope for you is strong. We know that you share in our sufferings. So we know that you also share in the comfort we receive.
8. Brothers, we want you to know about the trouble we suffered in the country of Asia. We had great burdens there that were greater than our own strength. We even gave up hope for life.