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 2:3-4

2:3 And I wrote this very thing to you, ⁶  so that when I came ⁷  I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours. 2:4 For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you. ⁸ 

2 Corinthians 5:10

5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, ⁹  so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil. ¹⁰ 

2 Corinthians 7:12

7:12 So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalf ¹¹  before God.

2 Corinthians 9:5

9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution ¹²  you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift ¹³  and not as something you feel forced to do. ¹⁴ 

2 Corinthians 11:9

11:9 When ¹⁵  I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs. ¹⁶  I ¹⁷  kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

2 Corinthians 12:20-21

12:20 For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me ¹⁸  not what you wish. I am afraid that ¹⁹  somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, ²⁰  slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. 12:21 I am afraid that ²¹  when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for ²²  many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.

2 Corinthians 13:7

13:7 Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, ²³  but so that you may do what is right ²⁴  even if we may appear to have failed the test. ²⁵ 

[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.”

[2:3]  ⁶ tn The words “to you” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

[2:3]  ⁷ sn So that when I came. Regarding this still future visit by Paul, see 2 Cor 12:14; 13:1.

[2:4]  ¹¹ tn Or “the love that I have in great measure for you.”

[5:10]  ¹⁶ sn The judgment seat (βῆμα, bhma) was a raised platform mounted by steps and sometimes furnished with a seat, used by officials in addressing an assembly or making pronouncements, often on judicial matters. The judgment seat was a common item in Greco-Roman culture, often located in the agora, the public square or marketplace in the center of a city. Use of the term in reference to Christ’s judgment would be familiar to Paul’s 1st century readers.

[5:10]  ¹⁷ tn Or “whether good or bad.”

[7:12]  ²¹ tn Grk “but in order that your eagerness on our behalf might be revealed to you.”

[9:5]  ²⁶ tn Grk “the blessing.”

[9:5]  ²⁷ tn Grk “a blessing.”

[9:5]  ²⁸ tn Grk “as a covetousness”; that is, a gift given grudgingly or under compulsion.

[11:9]  ³¹ tn Grk “you, and when.” A new sentence was started here in the translation.

[11:9]  ³² 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).

[11:9]  ³³ tn Grk “needs, and I kept.” A new sentence was started here in the translation.

[12:20]  ³⁶ tn Grk “and I will be found by you.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation.

[12:20]  ³⁷ tn The words “I am afraid that” are not repeated in the Greek text, but are needed for clarity.

[12:20]  ³⁸ tn Or “intense anger, hostility.”

[12:21]  ⁴¹ tn The words “I am afraid that” are not repeated in the Greek text from v. 20, but are needed for clarity.

[12:21]  ⁴² tn Or “I will mourn over.”

[13:7]  ⁴⁶ tn Or “that we may appear to be approved.”

[13:7]  ⁴⁷ tn Or “what is good.”

[13:7]  ⁴⁸ tn Or “even if we appear disapproved.”