2 Corinthians 10:11

10:11 Let such a person consider this: What we say ¹  by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.

2 Corinthians 13:2

13:2 I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone, ² 

2 Corinthians 13:10

13:10 Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive ³  I may not have to deal harshly with you ⁴  by using my authority – the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

2 Corinthians 5:6

5:6 Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth ⁵  we are absent from the Lord –

2 Corinthians 5:8-9

5:8 Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away ⁶  from the body and at home with the Lord. 5:9 So then whether we are alive ⁷  or away, we make it our ambition to please him. ⁸ 

2 Corinthians 10:1

Paul’s Authority from the Lord

10:1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you ⁹  personally ¹⁰  by the meekness and gentleness ¹¹  of Christ (I who am meek ¹²  when present among ¹³  you, but am full of courage ¹⁴  toward you when away!) –

¹ tn Grk “what we are in word.”

² tn The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text but is implied.

³ tn Grk “when I am present,” but in the context of Paul’s third (upcoming) visit to Corinth, this is better translated as “when I arrive.”

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

⁴ tn Grk “we know that being at home in the body”; an idiom for being alive (L&N 23.91).

⁵ tn Or “be absent.”

⁶ tn Grk “whether we are at home” [in the body]; an idiom for being alive (L&N 23.91).

⁷ tn Grk “to be pleasing to him.”

⁷ tn The Greek pronoun (“you”) is plural.

⁸ tn The word “personally” is supplied to reflect the force of the Greek intensive pronoun αὐτός (autos) at the beginning of the verse.

⁹ tn Or “leniency and clemency.” D. Walker, “Paul’s Offer of Leniency of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:1): Populist Ideology and Rhetoric in a Pauline Letter Fragment (2 Cor 10:1-13:10)” (Ph.D. diss., University of Chicago, 1998), argues for this alternative translation for three main reasons: (1) When the two Greek nouns πραΰτης and ἐπιείκεια (prauth" and ejpieikeia) are used together, 90% of the time the nuance is “leniency and clemency.” (2) “Leniency and clemency” has a military connotation, which is precisely what appears in the following verses. (3) 2 Cor 10-13 speaks of Paul’s sparing use of his authority, which points to the nuance of “leniency and clemency.”

¹⁰ tn Or “who lack confidence.”

¹¹ tn Or “when face to face with.”

¹² tn Or “but bold.”