2 Corinthians 1:12

Paul Defends His Changed Plans

1:12 For our reason for confidence ¹  is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives ²  and sincerity which are from God ³  – not by human wisdom ⁴  but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more ⁵  toward you.

2 Corinthians 8:19

8:19 In addition, ⁶  this brother ⁷  has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift ⁸  to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help. ⁹ 

2 Corinthians 9:5

9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution ¹⁰  you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift ¹¹  and not as something you feel forced to do. ¹² 

2 Corinthians 9:13

9:13 Through the evidence ¹³  of this service ¹⁴  they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing ¹⁵  with them and with everyone.

¹ tn Or “for boasting.”

² tc Two viable variants exist at this place in the text: ἁγιότητι (Jagiothti, “holiness”) vs. ἁπλότητι (Japlothti, “pure motives”). A confusion of letters could well have produced the variant (TCGNT 507): In uncial script the words would have been written agiothti and aplothti. This, however, does not explain which reading created the other. Overall ἁπλότητι, though largely a Western-Byzantine reading (א² D F G Ï lat sy), is better suited to the context; it is also a Pauline word while ἁγιότης (Jagioth") is not. It also best explains the rise of the other variants, πραότητι (praothti, “gentleness”) and {σπλάγχνοις} (splancnoi", “compassion”). On the other hand, the external evidence in favor of ἁγιότητι is extremely strong (Ì⁴⁶ א* A B C K P Ψ 0121 0243 33 81 1739 1881 al co). This diversity of mss provides excellent evidence for authenticity, but because of the internal evidence listed above, ἁπλότητι is to be preferred, albeit only slightly.

³ tn Grk “pure motives and sincerity of God.”

⁴ tn Or “not by worldly wisdom.”

⁵ tn Or “and especially.”

⁶ tn Grk “gospel, and not only this, but.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation.

⁷ tn Grk “he”; the referent (the brother mentioned in v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁸ tn That is, the offering or collection being taken to assist impoverished Christians.

⁹ tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied (see L&N 25.68).

¹¹ tn Grk “the blessing.”

¹² tn Grk “a blessing.”

¹³ tn Grk “as a covetousness”; that is, a gift given grudgingly or under compulsion.

¹⁶ tn Or “proof,” or perhaps “testing” (NRSV).

¹⁷ tn Or “ministry.”

¹⁸ tn Or “your partnership”; Grk “your fellowship.”