How does Paul explain suffering and the omitted visit?

Paul, apostle by God’s will, and Timothy address Corinth’s church and all Achaia’s saints, with grace and peace from the Father and Jesus Christ. God is blessed as Father of mercies and all comfort, comforting them in tribulation so they can comfort others with received exhortation. Christ’s sufferings and comfort abound in them. Their tribulation, comfort and exhortation are for readers’ exhortation, consolation and salvation, working endurance of like sufferings. Hope is steadfast because shared suffering also shares consolation.

The Asia tribulation pressed them beyond strength until weary even of life. They had the answer of death within themselves so as to trust God who raises dead rather than themselves. God delivered and delivers from great dangers; they trust future deliverance, helped by readers’ prayer so many give thanks for the gift. No particular persecution, judicial death sentence or diagnosis is identified, and future trust is not a report of every future rescue.

Their glory is conscience’s testimony to simplicity of heart and God’s sincerity, living by grace rather than carnal wisdom, especially toward these readers. They write only what readers have read and known, hoping knowledge to the end. Readers have known them in part; both are each other’s glory in the Lord’s day. This does not say readers will fully know all hidden motives.

Paul formerly intended a visit for a second grace, passing through them to Macedonia and returning toward Judea. He asks whether this purpose used lightness or fleshly yes-and-no. God is faithful and their preaching was not yes-and-no. Christ preached by Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy was It is. The printed annotation interprets uniform apostolic doctrine, contrasting what it calls modern sectaries’ changing assertions; its polemic remains printed commentary, not a newly established judgment. God’s promises are It is in Christ and through him amen to God unto their glory. God confirms and anoints them with readers, seals them and gives the Spirit’s pledge in hearts. No specified liturgical response or eternal-inheritance explanation is added.

Calling God witness upon his soul, Paul says he did not come any more to Corinth to spare them. He denies dominion over their faith and calls himself a helper of their joy, because they stand in faith. The severity, procedure and completed effect of a contemplated disciplinary visit are not described here.