June 10, 2013, Reading

Second Corinthians 1:1-7

1 Paul, by the will of God an apostle of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, our brother, to the church of God in Corinth and to all God’s holy people in the whole of Achaia.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father and the Godwho gives every possible encouragement;

4 he supports us in every hardship, so that we are able to come to the support of others, in every hardship of theirs because of the encouragement that we ourselves receive from God.

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow into our lives; so too does the encouragement we receive through Christ.

6 So if we have hardships to undergo, this will contribute to your encouragement and your salvation; if we receive encouragement, this is to gain for you the encouragement which enables you to bear with perseverance the same sufferings as we do.

7 So our hope for you is secure in the knowledge that you share the encouragement we receive, no less than the sufferings we bear.