1:12 For our reason for confidence 3 is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives 4 and sincerity which are from God 5 – not by human wisdom 6 but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more 7 toward you.
1 tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1., where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).
2 tn Grk “Asia”; in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia, made up of about one-third of the west and southwest end of modern Asia Minor. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia.
3 tn Or “for boasting.”
4 tc Two viable variants exist at this place in the text: ἁγιότητι (Jagiothti, “holiness”) vs. ἁπλότητι (Japlothti, “pure motives”). A confusion of letters could well have produced the variant (TCGNT 507): In uncial script the words would have been written agiothti and aplothti. This, however, does not explain which reading created the other. Overall ἁπλότητι, though largely a Western-Byzantine reading (א2 D F G Ï lat sy), is better suited to the context; it is also a Pauline word while ἁγιότης (Jagioth") is not. It also best explains the rise of the other variants, πραότητι (praothti, “gentleness”) and {σπλάγχνοις} (splancnoi", “compassion”). On the other hand, the external evidence in favor of ἁγιότητι is extremely strong (Ì46 א* A B C K P Ψ 0121 0243 33 81 1739 1881 al co). This diversity of
5 tn Grk “pure motives and sincerity of God.”
6 tn Or “not by worldly wisdom.”
7 tn Or “and especially.”
5 tn The words “to you” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
6 sn So that when I came. Regarding this still future visit by Paul, see 2 Cor 12:14; 13:1.
7 tn Or “the love that I have in great measure for you.”
9 tn Grk “but in order that your eagerness on our behalf might be revealed to you.”
11 tn Grk “the blessing.”
12 tn Grk “a blessing.”
13 tn Grk “as a covetousness”; that is, a gift given grudgingly or under compulsion.
13 tn Grk “you, and when.” A new sentence was started here in the translation.
14 tn If the participle ἐλθόντες (elqonte") is taken as temporal rather than adjectival, the translation would be, “for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, fully supplied my needs” (similar to NASB).
15 tn Grk “needs, and I kept.” A new sentence was started here in the translation.
15 tn Grk “and I will be found by you.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation.
16 tn The words “I am afraid that” are not repeated in the Greek text, but are needed for clarity.
17 tn Or “intense anger, hostility.”
17 tn The words “I am afraid that” are not repeated in the Greek text from v. 20, but are needed for clarity.
18 tn Or “I will mourn over.”
19 tn Or “that we may appear to be approved.”
20 tn Or “what is good.”
21 tn Or “even if we appear disapproved.”