1: See the declaration of such salutations, in the former epistles.
*: Ephesians 1:3 1 Peter 1:3
2: He beginneth after this manner with thanksgiving, which notwithstanding (otherwise them he was wont) he applieth to himself: beginning his epistle, with the setting forth of the dignity of this apostleship, constrained (as it would seen) by their importunity which took an occasion to despise him, by reason of his miseries. But he answereth, that he is not so afflicted but that his comforts do exceed his afflictions, showing the ground of them, even the mercy of God the Father in Jesus Christ.
a: To him be praise and glory given.
b: Most merciful.
3: The Lord doth comfort us to this end and purpose, that we may so much the more surely comfort others.
c: The miseries which we suffer for Christ, or which Christ suffereth in us.
4: He denieth that either his afflictions wherewith he was often afflicted, or the consolations which he received of God, may justly be despised, seeing that the Corinthians both ought and might take great occasion to be confirmed by either of them
d: Although salvation be given us freely, yet because there is a way appointed us whereby we must come to it, which is the race of an innocent and upright life, which we must run, therefore we are said to work our salvation, Philippians 2:12 And because it is God only that of his free good will worketh all things in us, therefore is he said to work the salvation in us by those selfsame things by which we must to everlasting live, after that we have once overcome all encumbrances.
5: He witnesseth that he is not only not ashamed of his afflictions, but that he desireth also to have all men know the greatness of them, and also his delivery from them, although it be not yet perfect.
e: I knew not at all what to do, neither did I see by man's help which way to save my life.
f: I was resolved with in myself to die.
g: From these great dangers.
*: Romans 15:30
6: That he may not seem to boast himself, he attributeth all to God, and therewith also confesseth that he attributeth much to the prayers of the faithful.
7: The end of the afflictions of the saints, is the glory of God, and therefore they ought to be precious unto us.
8: Secondly he putteth away another slander, to wit, that he was a light man, and such a one as was not lightly to be credited, seeing that he promised to come unto them, and came not. And first he speaketh of the simplicity of his mind, and sincerity, which they knew both by his voice when he was present, and they ought to acknowledge it also in his letters, being absent: and moreover he protesteth that he will never be otherwise.
h: With clearness, and holy and true plainness of mind, as God himself can witness.
i: Trusting to that very wisdom, which God of his free goodness hath given me from heaven.
j: He saith, he writeth barely and simply: for he that writeth in coloured sort: is rightly said to write otherwise then we read: and this he saith the Corinthians shall truly know and like of very well.
k: Perfectly.
l: Paul's rejoicing in the Lord was, that he had won the Corinthians: and they themselves rejoiced that such an apostle was their instructor, and taught them so purely and sincerely.
m: When he shall sit as judge.
n: Another benefit.
9: He putteth away their slander and false report by denying it, and first of all in that that diverse went about to persuade the Corinthians, that in the preaching of the gospel, Paul agreed not to himself: for this was their matter and the case.
o: As men do which will rashly promise anything, and change their purpose at every turning of a hand.
p: That I should say and unsay a thing?
10: He calleth God to witness and for judge, of his constancy in preaching and teaching one selfsame gospel.
q: True, and of whose faithful witness it were horrible to doubt.
11: he joineth also with himself, his fellows as witnesses with whom he fully consented in teaching one selfsame thing, to wit, one selfsame Christ.
r: Was not diverse and wavering.
s: That is, in God.
12: Last of all he declareth the sum of his doctrine, to wit, that all the promises of salvation are sure and ratified in Christ.
t: Christ is set forth to exhibit and fulfil them also most assuredly, and with out all doubt.
u: Through our ministry.
13: He attributeth the praise of this constancy, only to the grace of God, through the Holy Ghost, and therewithal concludeth, that they cannot doubt of his faith and his fellows, without doing injury to the Spirit of God, seeing that they themselves do know all this to be true.
v: An earnest, is whatsoever is given to confirm a promise.
14: Now coming to the matter, he sweareth that he did not only, not lightly alter his purpose of coming to them, but rather that he come not unto them for this cause, that he might not be constrained to deal more sharply with them being present, then he would.
w: Against myself, and to the danger of mine own life.
15: He removeth all suspicion of arrogance, declaring that he speaketh not as a Lord unto them, but as a servant, appointed of God to comfort them.
x: He setteth the joy and peace of conscience, which God is author of, against tyrannous fear, and therewithal showeth the end of the Gospel

Chapter 1

1. He beginneth with the praise of afflictions, 8. declaring what he hath suffered in Asia, 10. and how happily God assisted him. 17. He saith it was not upon any lightness that he came not according to his promise.

Paul 1 an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God and our brother Timothy, to the Church of God, which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
2 Grace be with you, and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 *2a Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of b mercies, and the God of all comfort,
4 Which comforteth us in all our tribulation, 3 that we may be able to comfort them which are in any affliction by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the c suffering of Christ abound in us, so our consolation aboundeth through Christ.
6 4 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is d wrought in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope is steadfast concerning you, in as much as we know that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
8 5 For, brethren, we would not have you ignorant of our affliction, which came unto us in Asia, how we were pressed out of measure passing strength, so that we altogether e doubted even of life.
9 Yea, we received the sentence of death in f ourselves, because we should not trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth the dead.
10 Who delivered us from so g great a death, and doth deliver us: in whom we trust, that yet hereafter he will deliver us.
11 *6 So that ye labour together in prayer for us, 7 that for the gift bestowed upon us for many, thanks may be given by many persons for us.
12 8 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly h pureness, and not in fleshly wisdom, but by the i grace of God we have had our conversation in the world, and most of all to you wards.
13 For we write none j other things unto you, then that ye read, or else that ye acknowledge, and I trust ye shall acknowledge unto the k end.
14 Even as ye have acknowledged us partly, that we are your l rejoicing, even as ye are ours, in the n day of our Lord Jesus.
15 And in this confidence was I minded first to come unto you, that ye might have had a n double grace,
16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and to be led forth toward Judea of you.
17 9 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or mind I those things which I mind, according to the o flesh, that with me should be, p Yea, yea, and Nay, nay?
18 10 Yea, God is q faithful, that our word toward you was not Yea, and Nay.
19 11 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, that is, by me, and Sylvanus, and Timothy, r was not Yea, and Nay: but in s him it was Yea.
20 12 For all the promises of God in him are Yea, and are in t him Amen, unto the glory of God through u us.
21 13 And it is God which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us.
22 Who hath also sealed us, and hath given the v earnest of the spirit in our hearts.
23 14 Now, I call God for a record unto my w soul, that to spare you, I came not as yet unto Corinth.
24 15 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but we are helpers of your x joy: for by faith ye stand.