2 Corinthians 3:3

3:3 revealing ¹  that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, ²  written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets ³  but on tablets of human hearts.

2 Corinthians 5:11

The Message of Reconciliation

5:11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, ⁴  we try to persuade ⁵  people, ⁶  but we are well known ⁷  to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.

2 Corinthians 8:10

8:10 So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you ⁸  made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give,

2 Corinthians 8:19

8:19 In addition, ⁹  this brother ¹⁰  has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift ¹¹  to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help. ¹² 

2 Corinthians 8:23

8:23 If there is any question ¹³  about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers ¹⁴  of the churches, a glory to Christ.

2 Corinthians 9:13

9:13 Through the evidence ¹⁵  of this service ¹⁶  they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing ¹⁷  with them and with everyone.

2 Corinthians 10:8

10:8 For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us ¹⁸  for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so. ¹⁹ 

2 Corinthians 10:13

10:13 But we will not boast beyond certain limits, ²⁰  but will confine our boasting ²¹  according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, ²²  that reaches even as far as you.

2 Corinthians 11:23

11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times.

[3:3]  ¹ tn Or “making plain.”

[3:3]  ² tn Grk “cared for by us,” an expression that could refer either to the writing or the delivery of the letter (BDAG 229 s.v. διακονέω 1). Since the following phrase refers to the writing of the letter, and since the previous verse speaks of this “letter” being “written on our [Paul’s and his companions’] hearts” it is more probable that the phrase “cared for by us” refers to the delivery of the letter (in the person of Paul and his companions).

[3:3]  ³ sn An allusion to Exod 24:12; 31:18; 34:1; Deut 9:10-11.

[5:11]  ⁴ tn Or “because we know what it means to fear the Lord.”

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

[5:11]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ 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.”

[8:10]  ⁷ tn Grk “who.”

[8:19]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “gospel, and not only this, but.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation.

[8:19]  ¹¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (the brother mentioned in v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:19]  ¹² tn That is, the offering or collection being taken to assist impoverished Christians.

[8:19]  ¹³ tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied (see L&N 25.68).

[8:23]  ¹³ tn Grk “If concerning Titus” (εἴτε ὑπὲρ Τίτου, eite Juper Titou); the Greek sentence opens with an ellipsis which must be supplied: If [there is any question] about Titus.”

[8:23]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “apostles.”

[9:13]  ¹⁶ tn Or “proof,” or perhaps “testing” (NRSV).

[9:13]  ¹⁷ tn Or “ministry.”

[9:13]  ¹⁸ tn Or “your partnership”; Grk “your fellowship.”

[10:8]  ¹⁹ tn The word “us” is not in the Greek text but is supplied. Indirect objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, and must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[10:8]  ²⁰ tn Grk “I will not be put to shame,” “I will not be ashamed.” The words “of doing so” are supplied to clarify for the reader that Paul will not be ashamed of boasting somewhat more about the authority the Lord gave him (beginning of v. 8).

[10:13]  ²² tn Or “boast excessively.” The phrase εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα (ei" ta ametra) is an idiom; literally it means “into that which is not measured,” that is, a point on a scale that goes beyond what might be expected (L&N 78.27).

[10:13]  ²³ tn The words “will confine our boasting” are not in the Greek text, but the reference to boasting must be repeated from the previous clause to clarify for the modern reader what is being limited.

[10:13]  ²⁴ tn Grk “according to the measure of the rule which God has apportioned to us as a measure”; for the translation used in the text see L&N 37.100.