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.”
9 tn Or “receive the grace of God uselessly.”
13 tn Or “encourage.”
14 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.
15 tn Grk “a prisoner of Christ Jesus.”