2 Corinthians 1:12

Paul Defends His Changed Plans

1:12 For our reason for confidence ¹  is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives ²  and sincerity which are from God ³  – not by human wisdom ⁴  but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more ⁵  toward you.

2 Corinthians 2:14

Apostolic Ministry

2:14 But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession ⁶  in Christ ⁷  and who makes known ⁸  through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place.

2 Corinthians 2:1

2:1 So ⁹  I made up my own mind ¹⁰  not to pay you another painful visit. ¹¹ 

2 Corinthians 2:1

2:1 So ¹²  I made up my own mind ¹³  not to pay you another painful visit. ¹⁴ 

2 Corinthians 3:9

3:9 For if there was glory in the ministry that produced condemnation, ¹⁵  how much more does the ministry that produces righteousness ¹⁶  excel ¹⁷  in glory!

[1:12]  ¹ tn Or “for boasting.”

[1:12]  ² 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 mss provides excellent evidence for authenticity, but because of the internal evidence listed above, ἁπλότητι is to be preferred, albeit only slightly.

[1:12]  ³ tn Grk “pure motives and sincerity of God.”

[1:12]  ⁴ tn Or “not by worldly wisdom.”

[1:12]  ⁵ tn Or “and especially.”

[2:14]  ⁶ tn Or “who always causes us to triumph.”

[2:14]  ⁷ tn Or “in the Messiah.”

[2:14]  ⁸ tn Or “who reveals.”

[2:1]  ⁹ tc Although usually δέ (de, “now”; found in א A C D¹ F G Ψ 0285 Ï lat) should take precedent over γάρ (gar) in textually disputed places in the corpus Paulinum, the credentials for γάρ here are not easily dismissed (Ì⁴⁶ B 0223 0243 33 1739 1881 al); here it is the preferred reading, albeit slightly.

[2:1]  ¹⁰ tn Or “I decided this for myself.”

[2:1]  ¹¹ tn Grk “not to come to you again in sorrow.”

[2:1]  ¹² tc Although usually δέ (de, “now”; found in א A C D¹ F G Ψ 0285 Ï lat) should take precedent over γάρ (gar) in textually disputed places in the corpus Paulinum, the credentials for γάρ here are not easily dismissed (Ì⁴⁶ B 0223 0243 33 1739 1881 al); here it is the preferred reading, albeit slightly.

[2:1]  ¹³ tn Or “I decided this for myself.”

[2:1]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “not to come to you again in sorrow.”

[3:9]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “the ministry of condemnation”; translated as an objective genitive, “the ministry that produced condemnation.”

[3:9]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “the ministry of righteousness”; translated as an objective genitive, “the ministry that produces righteousness.”

[3:9]  ¹⁷ tn Traditionally, “abound.”