1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ. 6But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. 7Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so you are also of the comfort.
8For we don’t desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia: that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life. 9Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, 10who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver, on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us, 11you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift given to us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf.
12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you. 13For we write no other things to you than what you read or even acknowledge, and I hope you will acknowledge to the end— 14as also you acknowledged us in part—that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
15In this confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit, 16and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to be sent forward by you on my journey to Judea. 17When I therefore planned this, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be the “Yes, yes” and the “No, no?” 18But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not “Yes and no.” 19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not “Yes and no,” but in him is “Yes.” 20For however many are the promises of God, in him is the “Yes.” Therefore also through him is the “Amen”, to the glory of God through us.
21Now he who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22who also sealed us and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.
23But I call God for a witness to my soul, that to spare you, I didn’t come to Corinth. 24We don’t control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.
Saul was born in Tarsus in Asia Minor. His family was of the line of Benjamin and possessed Roman citizenship (Rom 11:1, Acts 25:11) by virtue of his home city. He studied the law under the tutelage of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) and learned the trade of tent maker, which he later used to support his ministry (Acts 18:3).
Saul enters the New Testament in a negative light by approving of the stoning of Stephen, having become a zealous Pharisee. After this event “he made havoc of the church,” arresting every Christian man and woman he could find (Acts 8:1-3). The Lord Jesus picked Saul as “a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).
After Saul’s conversion his name was changed to Paul (Acts 13:9). He went on to become author of thirteen books of the New Testament, the founder of many churches in Asia Minor and Greece, a missionary to Rome and a witness of Christ to many rulers, including the “household of Caesar.” During this time he was imprisoned, beaten, stoned and even shipwrecked. After being arrested in Jerusalem, he appealed to Caesar and was sent to Rome. After arriving in Rome, he was imprisoned again and put under house arrest, finally being released until he was arrested in the persecution of Nero. Tradition says he was beheaded by Nero and buried outside the walls of Rome.
In 2009 the Vatican announced that excavations carried out in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls had discovered a first or second century tomb containing bone fragments, incense and fragments of linen, which might be those of Paul.
The writings of Paul have probably influenced Christian doctrine more than any other person after Christ. His letter to the church of Rome is the first systematic presentation of theology written. Other letters include instructions for church order, familial relations, qualifications for pastors and deacons, teachings against legalism and antinomianism, and an incipient form of later Gnosticism in the second century. His letters affirm the doctrines of salvation by grace through faith and election. His life of service to the Gospel also stands as an example for all Christians.