2 Corinthians 1:17

1:17 Therefore when I was planning to do this, I did not do so without thinking about what I was doing, did I? ¹  Or do I make my plans ²  according to mere human standards ³  so that I would be saying ⁴  both “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time?

2 Corinthians 5:11

The Message of Reconciliation

5:11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, ⁵  we try to persuade ⁶  people, ⁷  but we are well known ⁸  to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.

2 Corinthians 7:7

7:7 We were encouraged ⁹  not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragement ¹⁰  you gave ¹¹  him, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, ¹²  your deep concern ¹³  for me, so that I rejoiced more than ever.

2 Corinthians 8:7

8:7 But as you excel ¹⁴  in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you ¹⁵  – make sure that you excel ¹⁶  in this act of kindness ¹⁷  too.

2 Corinthians 10:1

Paul’s Authority from the Lord

10:1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you ¹⁸  personally ¹⁹  by the meekness and gentleness ²⁰  of Christ (I who am meek ²¹  when present among ²²  you, but am full of courage ²³  toward you when away!) –

2 Corinthians 10:7

10:7 You are looking at outward appearances. ²⁴  If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.

2 Corinthians 11:21

11:21 (To my disgrace ²⁵  I must say that we were too weak for that!) ²⁶  But whatever anyone else dares to boast about ²⁷  (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing. ²⁸ 

[1:17]  ¹ tn The Greek construction anticipates a negative answer. This is indicated in the translation by the ‘tag’ question “did I?” at the end of the sentence.

[1:17]  ² tn Grk “the things that I plan, do I plan (them).”

[1:17]  ³ tn Grk “according to the flesh.”

[1:17]  ⁴ tn Grk “so that with me there should be.”

[5:11]  ⁵ tn Or “because we know what it means to fear the Lord.”

[5:11]  ⁶ tn The present tense of πείθομεν (peiqomen) has been translated as a conative present.

[5:11]  ⁷ 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).

[5:11]  ⁸ 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.”

[7:7]  ⁹ tn Because of the length and complexity of this Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the phrase “We were encouraged.”

[7:7]  ¹⁰ tn Or “comfort,” “consolation.”

[7:7]  ¹¹ tn Grk “by the encouragement with which he was encouraged by you.” The passive construction was translated as an active one in keeping with contemporary English style, and the repeated word “encouraged” was replaced in the translation by “gave” to avoid redundancy in the translation.

[7:7]  ¹² tn Or “your grieving,” “your deep sorrow.”

[7:7]  ¹³ tn Or “your zeal.”

[8:7]  ¹³ tn Grk “as you abound.”

[8:7]  ¹⁴ 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]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “you abound.”

[8:7]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “this grace.”

[10:1]  ¹⁷ tn The Greek pronoun (“you”) is plural.

[10:1]  ¹⁸ tn The word “personally” is supplied to reflect the force of the Greek intensive pronoun αὐτός (autos) at the beginning of the verse.

[10:1]  ¹⁹ tn Or “leniency and clemency.” D. Walker, “Paul’s Offer of Leniency of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:1): Populist Ideology and Rhetoric in a Pauline Letter Fragment (2 Cor 10:1-13:10)” (Ph.D. diss., University of Chicago, 1998), argues for this alternative translation for three main reasons: (1) When the two Greek nouns πραΰτης and ἐπιείκεια (prauth" and ejpieikeia) are used together, 90% of the time the nuance is “leniency and clemency.” (2) “Leniency and clemency” has a military connotation, which is precisely what appears in the following verses. (3) 2 Cor 10-13 speaks of Paul’s sparing use of his authority, which points to the nuance of “leniency and clemency.”

[10:1]  ²⁰ tn Or “who lack confidence.”

[10:1]  ²¹ tn Or “when face to face with.”

[10:1]  ²² tn Or “but bold.”

[10:7]  ²¹ tn The phrase is close to a recognized idiom for judging based on outward appearances (L&N 30.120). Some translators see a distinction, however, and translate 2 Cor 10:7a as “Look at what is in front of your eyes,” that is, the obvious facts of the case (so NRSV).

[11:21]  ²⁵ tn Or “my shame.”

[11:21]  ²⁶ sn It seems best, in context, to see the statement we were too weak for that as a parenthetical and ironic comment by Paul on his physical condition (weakness or sickness) while he was with the Corinthians (cf. 2 Cor 12:7-10; Gal 4:15).

[11:21]  ²⁷ tn The words “to boast about” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, and this phrase serves as the direct object of the preceding verb.

[11:21]  ²⁸ tn Grk “I also dare”; the words “to boast about the same thing” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, and this phrase serves as the direct object of the preceding verb.