2 Corinthians 5:11

The Message of Reconciliation

5:11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, ¹  we try to persuade ²  people, ³  but we are well known ⁴  to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.

2 Corinthians 10:7

10:7 You are looking at outward appearances. ⁵  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 1:9

1:9 Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, ⁶  so that we would not trust in ourselves ⁷  but in God who raises the dead.

2 Corinthians 2:3

2:3 And I wrote this very thing to you, ⁸  so that when I came ⁹  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.

[5:11]  ¹ tn Or “because we know what it means to fear the Lord.”

[5:11]  ² tn The present tense of πείθομεν (peiqomen) has been translated as a conative present.

[5:11]  ³ 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]  ⁴ 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.”

[10:7]  ⁵ 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).

[1:9]  ⁹ 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]  ¹⁰ tn Or “might not put confidence in ourselves.”

[2:3]  ¹³ tn The words “to you” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

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