2 Corinthians 1:21-23

New Century Version

²¹ Remember, God is the One who makes you and us strong in Christ. God made us his chosen people. ²² He put his mark on us to show that we are his, and he put his Spirit in our hearts to be a guarantee for all he has promised.

²³ I tell you this, and I ask God to be my witness that this is true: The reason I did not come back to Corinth was to keep you from being punished or hurt.