2 Corinthians 3:12

3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we behave with great boldness, ¹ 

2 Corinthians 10:1-2

Paul’s Authority from the Lord

10:1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you ²  personally ³  by the meekness and gentleness ⁴  of Christ (I who am meek ⁵  when present among ⁶  you, but am full of courage ⁷  toward you when away!) – 10:2 now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving ⁸  according to human standards. ⁹ 

2 Corinthians 11:21

11:21 (To my disgrace ¹⁰  I must say that we were too weak for that!) ¹¹  But whatever anyone else dares to boast about ¹²  (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing. ¹³ 

2 Corinthians 11:1

Paul and His Opponents

11:1 I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me!

2 Corinthians 2:2

2:2 For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad ¹⁴  but the one I caused to be sad?

2 Corinthians 2:6

2:6 This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him,

[3:12]  ¹ tn Or “we employ great openness of speech.”

[10:1]  ² tn The Greek pronoun (“you”) is plural.

[10:1]  ³ 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]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ tn Or “who lack confidence.”

[10:1]  ⁶ tn Or “when face to face with.”

[10:1]  ⁷ tn Or “but bold.”

[10:2]  ⁸ tn Grk “consider us as walking.”

[10:2]  ⁹ tn Grk “according to the flesh.”

[11:21]  ¹⁰ tn Or “my shame.”

[11:21]  ¹¹ 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]  ¹² 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]  ¹³ 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.

[2:2]  ¹⁴ tn Or “to cheer me up.” L&N 25.131 translates this “For if I were to make you sad, who would be left to cheer me up?”