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 8:7

8:7 But as you excel ⁶  in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you ⁷  – make sure that you excel ⁸  in this act of kindness ⁹  too.

2 Corinthians 8:19

8:19 In addition, ¹⁰  this brother ¹¹  has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift ¹²  to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help. ¹³ 

2 Corinthians 12:9

12:9 But ¹⁴  he said to me, “My grace is enough ¹⁵  for you, for my ¹⁶  power is made perfect ¹⁷  in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly ¹⁸  about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in ¹⁹  me.

[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.”

[8:7]  ⁶ tn Grk “as you abound.”

[8:7]  ⁷ tc The reading “the love from us that is in you” is very difficult in this context, for Paul is here enumerating the Corinthians’ attributes: How is it possible for them to excel “in the love from us that is in you”? Most likely, because of this difficulty, several early scribes, as well as most later ones (א C D F G Ψ [33] Ï lat), altered the text to read “your love for us” (so NIV; Grk ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγάπῃ [ex Jumwn en Jhmin agaph]). The reading ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν ἀγάπῃ (ex Jhmwn en Jumin agaph) is found, however, in excellent and early witnesses (Ì⁴⁶ B 0243 6 104 630 1175 1739 1881 co). As the harder reading it explains the rise of the other reading. What, then, is the force of “in the love from us that is in you”? Most likely, Paul is commending the Corinthians for excelling in deriving some inspiration from the apostles’ love for them.

[8:7]  ⁸ tn Grk “you abound.”

[8:7]  ⁹ tn Grk “this grace.”

[8:19]  ¹¹ tn Grk “gospel, and not only this, but.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation.

[8:19]  ¹² tn Grk “he”; the referent (the brother mentioned in v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:19]  ¹³ tn That is, the offering or collection being taken to assist impoverished Christians.

[8:19]  ¹⁴ tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied (see L&N 25.68).

[12:9]  ¹⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” because of the contrast implicit in the context.

[12:9]  ¹⁷ tn Or “is sufficient.”

[12:9]  ¹⁸ tc The majority of later mss (א² A^c D¹ Ψ 0243 0278 33 1739 1881 Ï) as well as some versional witnesses include the pronoun “my” here, but the omission of the pronoun has excellent external support (Ì^46vid א* A* B D* F G latt). Scribes probably added the pronoun for clarity, making the obvious referent explicit. This would also make “power” more parallel with “my grace.” Though the original text probably did not include “my,” scribes who added the word were following the sense of Paul’s statement.

[12:9]  ¹⁹ tn Or “my power comes to full strength.”

[12:9]  ²⁰ tn “Most gladly,” a comparative form used with superlative meaning and translated as such.

[12:9]  ²¹ tn Or “may rest on.”