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 3:6

3:6 who made us adequate ²  to be servants of a new covenant ³  not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Corinthians 4:10

4:10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, ⁴  so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible ⁵  in our body.

2 Corinthians 4:18

4:18 because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 5:14

5:14 For the love of Christ ⁶  controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ ⁷  died for all; therefore all have died.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Self-Purification

7:1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves ⁸  from everything that could defile the body ⁹  and the spirit, and thus accomplish ¹⁰  holiness out of reverence for God. ¹¹ 

2 Corinthians 8:9-10

8:9 For you know the grace ¹²  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. 8:10 So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you ¹³  made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give,

2 Corinthians 10:7

10:7 You are looking at outward appearances. ¹⁴  If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.

2 Corinthians 10:11

10:11 Let such a person consider this: What we say ¹⁵  by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.

2 Corinthians 11:31

11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying.

2 Corinthians 13:3

13:3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He ¹⁶  is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.

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 Or “competent.”

³ sn This new covenant is promised in Jer 31:31-34; 32:40.

³ tn The first clause of 2 Cor 4:10 is elliptical and apparently refers to the fact that Paul was constantly in danger of dying in the same way Jesus died (by violence at least). According to L&N 23.99 it could be translated, “at all times we live in the constant threat of being killed as Jesus was.”

⁴ tn Or “may also be revealed.”

⁴ 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.

⁵ tn Grk “one”; the referent (Christ) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Or “purify ourselves.”

⁶ tn Grk “from every defilement of the flesh.”

⁷ tn Grk “accomplishing.” The participle has been translated as a finite verb due to considerations of contemporary English style, and “thus” has been supplied to indicate that it represents a result of the previous cleansing.

⁸ tn Grk “in the fear of God.”

⁶ tn Or “generosity.”

⁷ tn Grk “who.”

⁸ tn The phrase is close to a recognized idiom for judging based on outward appearances (L&N 30.120). Some translators see a distinction, however, and translate 2 Cor 10:7a as “Look at what is in front of your eyes,” that is, the obvious facts of the case (so NRSV).

⁹ tn Grk “what we are in word.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.