1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will,1:1 1Co 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 2Tm 1:1 and Timothy1:1 1Th 3:2; 1Tm 1:2 our1:1 Lit the brother:

3Blessed be1:3 Mk 14:61 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies1:3 Heb 10:28 and the God of all comfort.1:3 Lk 2:25

4He comforts us in all our affliction,1:4 Or trouble, or tribulation, or trials, or oppression so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

5For just as the sufferings1:5 Gl 5:24; Php 3:10 of Christ1:5 Rm 8:17; 2Co 4:10; Gl 6:17; Php 3:10; Col 1:24 overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.1:5 Php 1:29

6If we are afflicted,1:6 Heb 11:37 it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.1:6 Php 1:29

7And our hope1:7 1Th 1:3 for you is firm, because we know that as you share1:7 Phm 17 in the sufferings, so you will also share in the comfort.

12Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony1:12 1Tm 2:6 of our conscience1:12 Heb 13:18 is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom1:12 Pr 3:19; 1Co 1:21 but by God’s grace.1:12 Ac 23:1; 2Co 4:2; 5:12; 1Th 2:10

13For we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely — 

14just as you have partially understood us — that we are your reason for pride,1:14 Rm 2:17; Gl 6:4 just as you also are ours1:14 2Co 9:3; Php 2:16; 4:1; 1Th 2:19–20 in the day of our1:14 Other mss omit our Lord Jesus.1:14 Php 1:6

15Because of this confidence, I planned to come to you first,1:15 Ac 18:1–18; 1Co 4:19 so that you could have a second benefit,1:15 Other mss read a second joy

16and to visit you on my way to Macedonia,1:16 Ac 16:9 and then come to you again from Macedonia and be helped by you1:16 Ac 20:38 on my journey1:16 Ac 19:21; 1Co 16:5–7 to Judea.1:16 Lk 1:5

17Now when I planned this, was I of two minds? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human1:17 Or a worldly, or a fleshly, or a selfish1:17 Php 3:3; Col 3:22 way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time?

18As God is faithful,1:18 Nm 23:19 our message to you is not “Yes and no.”

19For the Son of God,1:19 Jn 5:19; Heb 1:2 Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you — Silvanus,1:19 Or Silas; Ac 15:22–32; 16:19–40; 17:1–161:19 1Th 1:1 Timothy, and I — did not become “Yes and no.” On the contrary, in him it is always “Yes.”1:19 Heb 13:8

20For every one of God’s promises1:20 Gn 12:7 is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen”1:20 Ps 72:19; Rv 22:21 to the glory of God.1:20 Mk 10:37; Lk 9:32; Jn 17:24; 2Co 3:18; 2Pt 3:18

21Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed1:21 Lk 4:18; 1Jn 2:20 us.

22He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts1:22 Jms 4:5 as a down payment.1:22 Eph 1:14