2 Corinthians 1:3

Thanksgiving for God’s Comfort

1:3 Blessed is ¹  the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

2 Corinthians 2:10

2:10 If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him – for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ,

2 Corinthians 5:14

5:14 For the love of Christ ²  controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ ³  died for all; therefore all have died.

2 Corinthians 5:18

5:18 And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 8:9

8:9 For you know the grace ⁴  of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.

2 Corinthians 10:5

10:5 and every arrogant obstacle ⁵  that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey ⁶  Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:14

10:14 For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ. ⁷ 

2 Corinthians 11:10

11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine ⁸  will not be stopped ⁹  in the regions of Achaia.

2 Corinthians 11:23

11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times.

2 Corinthians 12:10

12:10 Therefore I am content with ¹⁰  weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties ¹¹  for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 13:3

13:3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He ¹²  is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.

2 Corinthians 13:14

13:14 [[EMPTY]] ¹³ 

¹ tn There is no verb in the Greek text; either the optative (“be”) or the indicative (“is”) can be supplied. The meaning of the term εὐλογητός (euloghtos) and the author’s intention at this point in the epistle must both come into play to determine which is the preferred nuance. εὐλογητός as an adjective can mean either that one is praised or that one is blessed, that is, in a place of favor and benefit. The meaning “blessed” would be more naturally paired with an indicative verb and would suggest that blessedness is an intrinsic part of God’s character. The meaning “praised” would be more naturally paired with an optative verb and would suggest that God ought to be praised. Pauline style in the epistles generally moves from statements to obligations, expressing the reality first and then the believer’s necessary response. When considered as a whole, although a decision is difficult, the general Pauline style of beginning with statements and moving to obligations argues for the indicative. Cf. also Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 1:3.

² tn The phrase ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ (Jh agaph tou Cristou, “the love of Christ”) could be translated as either objective genitive (“our love for Christ”) or subjective genitive (“Christ’s love for us”). Either is grammatically possible, but with the reference to Christ’s death for all in the following clauses, a subjective genitive (“Christ’s love for us”) is more likely.

³ tn Grk “one”; the referent (Christ) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³ tn Or “generosity.”

⁴ tn The phrase “every arrogant obstacle” could be translated simply “all arrogance” (so L&N 88.207).

⁵ tn Grk “to the obedience of Christ”; but since Χριστοῦ (Cristou) is clearly an objective genitive here, it is better to translate “to make it obey Christ.”

⁵ tn Grk “with the gospel of Christ,” but since Χριστοῦ (Cristou) is clearly an objective genitive here, it is better to translate “with the gospel about Christ.”

⁶ tn That is, that Paul offers the gospel free of charge to the Corinthians (see 2 Cor 11:7).

⁷ tn Or “silenced.”

⁷ tn Or “I take delight in.”

⁸ tn Or “calamities.”

⁸ tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

⁹ tc Most witnesses, especially later ones (א² D Ψ Ï lat sy bo), conclude this letter with ἀμήν (amhn, “amen”), while several early and important mss (Ì⁴⁶ א* A B F G 0243 6 33 630 1175 1739 1881 pc sa) lack the particle. Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. That so many diverse witnesses lacked the word here is strong testimony to its absence for the original text of 2 Corinthians.