2 Corinthians 1:9

1:9 Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, ¹  so that we would not trust in ourselves ²  but in God who raises the dead.

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? ³  Or do I make my plans ⁴  according to mere human standards ⁵  so that I would be saying ⁶  both “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time?

2 Corinthians 2:3

2:3 And I wrote this very thing to you, ⁷  so that when I came ⁸  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 Corinthians 5:4

5:4 For we groan while we are in this tent, ⁹  since we are weighed down, ¹⁰  because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

2 Corinthians 5:10

5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, ¹¹  so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil. ¹² 

2 Corinthians 8:7

8:7 But as you excel ¹³  in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you ¹⁴  – make sure that you excel ¹⁵  in this act of kindness ¹⁶  too.

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 ¹⁷  you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift ¹⁸  and not as something you feel forced to do. ¹⁹ 

2 Corinthians 12:9

12:9 But ²⁰  he said to me, “My grace is enough ²¹  for you, for my ²²  power is made perfect ²³  in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly ²⁴  about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in ²⁵  me.

2 Corinthians 13:10

13:10 Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive ²⁶  I may not have to deal harshly with you ²⁷  by using my authority – the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

[1:9]  ¹ tn Grk “we ourselves had the sentence of death within ourselves.” Here ἀπόκριμα (apokrima) is being used figuratively; no actual official verdict had been given, but in light of all the difficulties that Paul and his colleagues had suffered, it seemed to them as though such an official verdict had been rendered against them (L&N 56.26).

[1:9]  ² tn Or “might not put confidence in ourselves.”

[1:17]  ³ 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]  ⁴ tn Grk “the things that I plan, do I plan (them).”

[1:17]  ⁵ tn Grk “according to the flesh.”

[1:17]  ⁶ tn Grk “so that with me there should be.”

[2:3]  ⁵ tn The words “to you” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

[2:3]  ⁶ sn So that when I came. Regarding this still future visit by Paul, see 2 Cor 12:14; 13:1.

[5:4]  ⁷ sn See the note in 5:1 on the phrase the tent we live in.

[5:4]  ⁸ tn Or “we are burdened.”

[5:10]  ⁹ 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]  ¹⁰ tn Or “whether good or bad.”

[8:7]  ¹¹ tn Grk “as you abound.”

[8:7]  ¹² 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]  ¹³ tn Grk “you abound.”

[8:7]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “this grace.”

[9:5]  ¹³ tn Grk “the blessing.”

[9:5]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “a blessing.”

[9:5]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “as a covetousness”; that is, a gift given grudgingly or under compulsion.

[12:9]  ¹⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” because of the contrast implicit in the context.

[12:9]  ¹⁶ tn Or “is sufficient.”

[12:9]  ¹⁷ 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]  ¹⁸ tn Or “my power comes to full strength.”

[12:9]  ¹⁹ tn “Most gladly,” a comparative form used with superlative meaning and translated as such.

[12:9]  ²⁰ tn Or “may rest on.”

[13:10]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “when I am present,” but in the context of Paul’s third (upcoming) visit to Corinth, this is better translated as “when I arrive.”

[13:10]  ¹⁸ tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.