2 Corinthians 1 | » |
1 This letter is from Paul. I have been chosen by God to be a missionary for Jesus Christ. Timothy is here with me and is writing to you also. We are writing to God's church in the city of Corinth and to all of God's people in the country of Greece.
2 May you have loving-favor and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Father Who shows us lovingkindness and our God Who gives us comfort.
4 He gives us comfort in all our troubles. Then we can comfort other people who have the same troubles. We give the same kind of comfort God gives us.
5 As we have suffered much for Christ and have shared in His pain, we also share His great comfort.
6 But if we are in trouble, it is for your good. And it is so you will be saved from the punishment of sin. If God comforts us, it is for your good also. You too will be given strength not to give up when you have the same kind of trouble we have.
7 Our hope for you is the same all the time. We know you are sharing our troubles. And so you will share the comfort we receive.
8 We want you to know, Christian brothers, of the trouble we had in the countries of Asia. The load was so heavy we did not have the strength to keep going. At times we did not think we could live.
9 We thought we would die. This happened so we would not put our trust in ourselves, but in God Who raises the dead.
10 Yes, God kept us from what looked like sure death and He is keeping us. As we trust Him, He will keep us in the future.
11 You also help us by praying for us. Many people thank God for His favor to us. This is an answer to the prayers of many people.
12 I am happy to say this. Whatever we did in this world, and for sure when we were with you, we were honest and had pure desires. We did not trust in human wisdom. Our power came from God's loving-favor.
13 We write to you only what we know you can understand. I hope you will understand everything.
14 When the Lord Jesus comes again, you can be as proud of us as we will be proud of you. Right now you do not understand us real well.
15 It was because of this, I wanted to visit you first. In that way, you would be helped two times.
16 I wanted to stop to visit you on my way to the country of Macedonia. I would stop again as I came from there. Then you could help me on my way to the country of Judea.
17 Yes, I changed my mind. Does that show that I change my mind a lot? Do I plan things as people of the world who say yes when they mean no? You know I am not like that!
18 As God is true, my yes means yes. I am not the kind of person who says one thing and means another.
19 Timothy and Silvanus and I have preached to you about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In Him there is no yes and no. In Him is yes.
20 Jesus says yes to all of God's many promises. It is through Jesus that we say, "Let it be so," when we give thanks to God.
21 God is the One Who makes our faith and your faith strong in Christ. He has set us apart for Himself.
22 He has put His mark on us to show we belong to Him. His Spirit is in our hearts to prove this.
23 I call on God to look into my heart. The reason I did not come to the city of Corinth was because I did not want my strong words to hurt you.
24 We are not the boss of your faith but we are working with you to make you happy. Your faith is strong.
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.