2 Corinthians 8:6

8:6 Thus ¹  we urged ²  Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, ³  so also he should complete this act of kindness ⁴  for you.

Ephesians 3:13

3:13 For this reason I ask you ⁵  not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, ⁶  which ⁷  is your glory. ⁸ 

Hebrews 6:11

6:11 But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end,

[8:6]  ¹ tn A new sentence was started here in the translation and the word “thus” was supplied to indicate that it expresses the result of the previous clause.

[8:6]  ² tn Or “we exhorted.”

[8:6]  ³ tn The words “this work” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted and must be supplied from the context.

[8:6]  ⁴ tn Grk “this grace.”

[3:13]  ⁵ tn Grk “I ask.” No direct object is given in Greek, leaving room for the possibility that either “God” (since the verb is often associated with prayer) or “you” is in view.

[3:13]  ⁶ tn Grk “my trials on your behalf.”

[3:13]  ⁷ sn Which. The antecedent (i.e., the word or concept to which this clause refers back) may be either “what I am suffering for you” or the larger concept of the recipients not losing heart over Paul’s suffering for them. The relative pronoun “which” is attracted to the predicate nominative “glory” in its gender and number (feminine singular), making the antecedent ambiguous. Paul’s suffering for them could be viewed as their glory (cf. Col 1:24 for a parallel) in that his suffering has brought about their salvation, but if so his suffering must be viewed as more than his present imprisonment in Rome; it would be a general description of his ministry overall (cf. 2 Cor 11:23-27). The other option is that the author is implicitly arguing that the believers have continued to have courage in the midst of his trials (as not to lose heart suggests) and that this is their glory. Philippians 1:27-28 offers an interesting parallel: The believers’ courage in the face of adversity is a sign of their salvation.

[3:13]  ⁸ tn Or “Or who is your glory?” The relative pronoun ἥτις (Jhti"), if divided differently, would become ἤ τίς (h ti"). Since there were no word breaks in the original mss, either word division is possible. The force of the question would be that for the readers to become discouraged over Paul’s imprisonment would mean that they were no longer trusting in God’s sovereignty.