1:23 Now I appeal to God as my witness, 2 that to spare 3 you I did not come again to Corinth. 4 1:24 I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm. 5
1 tn Or “first installment,” “pledge,” “deposit.”
2 tn Grk “I call upon God as witness against my soul.” Normally this implies an appeal for help (L&N 33.176).
3 tn Here φειδόμενος (feidomeno") has been translated as a telic participle.
4 sn Paul had promised to come again to visit (see 2 Cor 1:15, 24) but explains here why he had changed his plans.
5 tn Or “because you stand firm in the faith.”