2 Corinthians 1:23

Why Paul Postponed His Visit

1:23 Now I appeal to God as my witness,¹ that to spare² you I did not come again to Corinth.³

2 Corinthians 3:15

3:15 But until this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds,⁴

2 Corinthians 4:3

4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing,

2 Corinthians 5:9

5:9 So then whether we are alive⁵ or away, we make it our ambition to please him.⁶

2 Corinthians 6:10

6:10 as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

2 Corinthians 6:12

6:12 Our affection for you is not restricted,⁷ but you are restricted in your affections for us.

2 Corinthians 8:3

8:3 For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily,⁸

2 Corinthians 8:16-17

The Mission of Titus

8:16 But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion⁹ I have for you, 8:17 because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager,¹⁰ he is coming¹¹ to you of his own accord.¹²

2 Corinthians 8:20

8:20 We did this¹³ as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering.

2 Corinthians 9:9

9:9 Just as it is written, “He¹⁴ has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.”¹⁵

2 Corinthians 10:3-4

10:3 For though we live¹⁶ as human beings,¹⁷ we do not wage war according to human standards,¹⁸ 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons,¹⁹ but are made powerful by God²⁰ for tearing down strongholds.²¹ We tear down arguments²²

2 Corinthians 11:1

Paul and His Opponents

11:1 I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me!

2 Corinthians 11:29

11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin,²³ and I do not burn with indignation?

2 Corinthians 11:32

11:32 In Damascus, the governor²⁴ under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus²⁵ in order to arrest²⁶ me,

¹tn Grk “I call upon God as witness against my soul.” Normally this implies an appeal for help (L&N 33.176).

²tn Here φειδόμενος (feidomeno") has been translated as a telic participle.

³sn Paul had promised to come again to visit (see 2 Cor 1:15, 24) but explains here why he had changed his plans.

⁴tn Grk “their heart.”

⁷tn Grk “whether we are at home” [in the body]; an idiom for being alive (L&N 23.91).

⁸tn Grk “to be pleasing to him.”

¹⁰tn Grk “You are not restricted by us.”

¹³tn Or “spontaneously.”

¹⁶tn Or “eagerness.”

¹⁹tn The comparative form of this adjective is used here with elative meaning.

²⁰tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.

²¹tn Or “of his own free will.”

²²tn “This” refers to sending the brother mentioned in 2 Cor 8:18 to Corinth along with Titus. The words “We did this” have no equivalent in the Greek text, but are necessary to maintain the thought flow in English. The Greek participle that begins v. 20 continues the sentence begun in v. 18 which concerns the sending of the other brother mentioned there.

²⁵sn He in the quotation refers to the righteous person.

²⁶sn A quotation from Ps 112:9.

²⁸tn Grk “we walk.”

²⁹tn Grk “in the flesh.”

³⁰tn Grk “according to the flesh.”

³¹tn Grk “are not fleshly [weapons].” The repetition of the word “warfare” does not occur in the Greek text, but is supplied for clarity.

³²tn Or “but (are) divinely powerful,” “but they have divine power,” or “but are powerful for God’s [service]”; Grk “but are powerful to God.”

³³sn Ultimately Paul is referring here to the false arguments of his opponents, calling them figuratively “strongholds.” This Greek word (ὀχύρωμα, ocurwma) is used only here in the NT.

³⁴tn Or “speculations.”

³⁴tn Or “who is caused to stumble.”

³⁷tn Grk “ethnarch.”

³⁸tn Grk “the city of the Damascenes.”

³⁹tn Or “to seize,” “to catch.”