2 Corinthians 1:24--2:3

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. ¹  2:1 So ²  I made up my own mind ³  not to pay you another painful visit. ⁴  2:2 For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad ⁵  but the one I caused to be sad? 2:3 And I wrote this very thing to you, ⁶  so that when I came ⁷  I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours.

¹ tn Or “because you stand firm in the faith.”

² tc Although usually δέ (de, “now”; found in א A C D¹ F G Ψ 0285 Ï lat) should take precedent over γάρ (gar) in textually disputed places in the corpus Paulinum, the credentials for γάρ here are not easily dismissed (Ì⁴⁶ B 0223 0243 33 1739 1881 al); here it is the preferred reading, albeit slightly.

³ tn Or “I decided this for myself.”

⁴ tn Grk “not to come to you again in sorrow.”

³ tn Or “to cheer me up.” L&N 25.131 translates this “For if I were to make you sad, who would be left to cheer me up?”

⁴ tn The words “to you” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

⁵ sn So that when I came. Regarding this still future visit by Paul, see 2 Cor 12:14; 13:1.