5:11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, 1 we try to persuade 2 people, 3 but we are well known 4 to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.
6:1 Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 7
1:8 So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, 1:9 I would rather appeal 8 to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man 9 and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus 10 –
1 tn Or “because we know what it means to fear the Lord.”
2 tn The present tense of πείθομεν (peiqomen) has been translated as a conative present.
3 tn Grk “men”; but ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is generic here since clearly both men and women are in view (Paul did not attempt to win only men to the gospel he preached).
4 tn Or “clearly evident.” BDAG 1048 s.v. φανερόω 2.b.β has “θεῷ πεφανερώμεθα we are well known to God 2 Cor 5:11a, cp. 11b; 11:6 v.l.”
5 tn Or “as though God were begging.”
6 tn Or “we beg you.”
7 tn Or “receive the grace of God uselessly.”
8 tn Or “encourage.”
9 tn Or perhaps “an ambassador” (so RSV, TEV), reading πρεσβευτής for πρεσβύτης (a conjecture proposed by Bentley, cf. BDAG 863 s.v. πρεσβύτης). NRSV reads “old man” and places “ambassador” in a note.
10 tn Grk “a prisoner of Christ Jesus.”