2 Corinthians 5-13

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. 2 Corinthians 5:1 sn The expression the tent we live in refers to “our earthly house, our body.” Paul uses the metaphor of the physical body as a house or tent, the residence of the immaterial part of a person.
2. 2 Corinthians 5:1 tn Or “destroyed.”
3. 2 Corinthians 5:2 tn Or “dwelling place.”
4. 2 Corinthians 5:2 tn Or “to be clothed with.”
5. 2 Corinthians 5:3 tc ‡ Some mss read “taken off” (ἐκδυσάμενοι, ekdusamenoi) instead of “put on” (ἐνδυσάμενοι, endusamenoi). This alternative reading would change the emphasis of the verse from putting on “our heavenly house” to taking off “our earthly house” (see the following note regarding the specification of the referent). The difference between the two readings is one letter (ν or κ), either of which may be mistaken for the other especially when written in majuscule script. ἐνδυσάμενοι enjoys strong support from the Alexandrian text (P⁴⁶ א B C 33 1739 1881), Byzantine witnesses, versions (lat sy co), and Clement of Alexandria. The Western text is the only text-form to differ: D*^,c reads ἐκδυσάμενοι, as does ar f^c Mcion Tert Spec; F and G read εκλ for εκδ which indirectly aligns them with D (and was surely due to confusion of letters in majuscule script). Thus “put on” has the oldest and best external attestation by far. Internal evidence also favors this reading. At first glance, it may seem that “after we have put on our heavenly house we will not be found naked” is an obvious statement; the scribe of D may have thought so and changed the participle. But v. 3 seems parenthetical (so A. Plummer, Second Corinthians [ICC], 147), and the idea that “we do not want to be unclothed but clothed” is repeated in v. 4 with an explanatory “for.” This concept also shows up in v. 2 with the phrase “we desire to put on.” So the context can be construed to argue for “put on” as the reading of the initial text. B. M. Metzger argues against the reading of NA²⁸, stating that ἐκδυσάμενοι is “an early alteration to avoid apparent tautology” (TCGNT 511; so also Plummer, 148). In addition, the reading ἐνδυσάμενοι fits the Pauline pattern of equivalence between apodosis and protasis that is found often enough in his conditional clauses. Thus, “put on” has the mark of authenticity and should be considered autographic.
6. 2 Corinthians 5:3 tn Grk “it”; the referent (the “heavenly dwelling” of the previous verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7. 2 Corinthians 5:4 sn See the note in 5:1 on the phrase the tent we live in.
8. 2 Corinthians 5:4 tn Or “we are burdened.”
9. 2 Corinthians 5:5 tn Grk “for this very thing.”
10. 2 Corinthians 5:5 tn Or “first installment,” “pledge,” “deposit” (see the note on the phrase “down payment” in 1:22).
11. 2 Corinthians 5:6 tn Grk “we know that being at home in the body”; an idiom for being alive (L&N 23.91).
12. 2 Corinthians 5:7 tn Grk “we walk.”
13. 2 Corinthians 5:8 tn Or “be absent.”
14. 2 Corinthians 5:9 tn Grk “whether we are at home” [in the body]; an idiom for being alive (L&N 23.91).
15. 2 Corinthians 5:9 tn Grk “to be pleasing to him.”
16. 2 Corinthians 5:10 sn The judgment seat (βῆμα, bēma) 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.
17. 2 Corinthians 5:10 tn Or “whether good or bad.”
18. 2 Corinthians 5:11 tn Or “because we know what it means to fear the Lord.”
19. 2 Corinthians 5:11 tn The present tense of πείθομεν (peithomen) has been translated as a conative present.
20. 2 Corinthians 5:11 tn Grk “men,” but ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) 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).
21. 2 Corinthians 5:11 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.”
22. 2 Corinthians 5:12 tn The present tense of συνιστάνομεν (sunistanomen) has been translated as a conative present.
23. 2 Corinthians 5:12 tn Or “to boast about us.”
24. 2 Corinthians 5:12 tn Or “who boast.”
25. 2 Corinthians 5:12 tn Or “in what is seen.”
26. 2 Corinthians 5:14 tn The phrase ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ (hē agapē tou Christou, “the love of Christ”) could be translated as either objective genitive (“our love for Christ”) or subjective genitive (“Christ’s love for us”). Either is grammatically possible, but with the reference to Christ’s death for all in the following clauses, a subjective genitive (“Christ’s love for us”) is more likely.
27. 2 Corinthians 5:14 tn Grk “one”; the referent (Christ) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
28. 2 Corinthians 5:15 tn Or “but for him who died and was raised for them.”
29. 2 Corinthians 5:16 tn Grk “we know.”
30. 2 Corinthians 5:16 tn Grk “no one according to the flesh.”
31. 2 Corinthians 5:16 tn Grk “we have known Christ according to the flesh.”
32. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tn Grk “old things have passed away.”
33. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tc Most mss have the words τὰ πάντα (ta panta, “all things”; cf. KJV “behold, all things are become new”), some after καίνα (kaina, “new”; D² K L P Ψ 104 326 945 2464 pm) and others before it (6 33 81 614 630 1241 1505 1881 pm). The reading without τὰ πάντα, however, has excellent support from both the Western and Alexandrian text-forms (P⁴⁶ א B C D* F G 048 0243 365 629 1175 1739 co), and the different word order of the phrase which includes it (“all things new” or “new all things”) in the ms tradition indicates its secondary character. This secondary addition may have taken place because of assimilation to τὰ δὲ πάντα (ta de panta, “and all [these] things”) that begins the following verse.
34. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tn Grk “new things have come [about].”
35. 2 Corinthians 5:19 tn Or “he has entrusted to us.”
36. 2 Corinthians 5:20 tn Or “as though God were begging.”
37. 2 Corinthians 5:20 tn Or “we beg you.”
38. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tn Grk “He”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
39. 2 Corinthians 5:21 sn The one who did not know sin is a reference to Jesus Christ.
40. 2 Corinthians 5:21 sn That is, “in Christ.”
41. 2 Corinthians 6:1 tn Or “receive the grace of God uselessly.”
42. 2 Corinthians 6:2 sn A quotation from Isa 49:8.
43. 2 Corinthians 6:3 tn The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context.
44. 2 Corinthians 6:3 tn Other interpretations of the first part of 2 Cor 6:3 are possible. The phrase could also mean, “not putting an obstacle in the way of anyone” (L&N 22.14), or “giving no one in anything a cause to sin” (L&N 88.307).
45. 2 Corinthians 6:4 tn Or “ministers.”
46. 2 Corinthians 6:4 tn Or “we have commended ourselves by all things.”
47. 2 Corinthians 6:4 tn Or “in trouble and suffering.”
48. 2 Corinthians 6:5 tn Or “rebellions” (uprisings in open defiance of civil authority).
49. 2 Corinthians 6:5 tn Usually κόποις (kopois) has been translated as “labors” or “hard work,” but see Matt 26:10 where it means “trouble”; “distress” (L&N 22.7). In this context with so many other terms denoting suffering and difficulty, such a meaning is preferable.
50. 2 Corinthians 6:6 tn Or “by holiness of spirit.”
51. 2 Corinthians 6:6 tn Or “sincere.”
52. 2 Corinthians 6:7 tn Grk “by the word of truth”; understanding ἀληθείας (alētheias) as an attributive genitive (“truthful word”).
53. 2 Corinthians 6:7 tn Or “speech.” In this context it is more likely that λόγος (logos) refers to Paul’s message (thus “teaching”) than to his speech in general.
54. 2 Corinthians 6:7 tn The phrase “for the right hand and for the left” possibly refers to a combination of an offensive weapon (a sword for the right hand) and a defensive weapon (a shield for the left).
55. 2 Corinthians 6:8 tn Or “regarded as deceivers.”
56. 2 Corinthians 6:9 tn Grk “disciplined,” but in this context probably a reference to scourging prior to execution (yet the execution is not carried out).
57. 2 Corinthians 6:11 tn Grk “our mouth has been open to you,” an idiom for openness in communication.
58. 2 Corinthians 6:12 tn Grk “You are not restricted by us.”
59. 2 Corinthians 6:13 tn The word “my” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
60. 2 Corinthians 6:13 tn The words “to us” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
61. 2 Corinthians 6:14 tn Or “Do not be mismatched.”
62. 2 Corinthians 6:15 sn The Greek term Βελιάρ (Beliar) is a spelling variant for Βελιάλ (Belial, see Judg 20:13 LXX). It occurs only here in the NT. Beliar is a reference to Satan.
63. 2 Corinthians 6:16 tc Most witnesses, including some significant ones (P⁴⁶ א² C D² F G Ψ 0209 M lat sy Tert), read ὑμεῖς…ἐστε (humeis…este, “you are”) instead of ἡμεῖς…ἐσμεν (hēmeis…esmen, “we are”) here, but several other early and significant mss (א* B D* L P 0243 6 33 81 326 365 1175 1739 1881 2464 co Cl Or) have ἡμεῖς…ἐσμεν. The external evidence is somewhat in favor of the first person pronoun and verb; the internal evidence weighs in even stronger. In light of the parallel in 1 Cor 3:16, where Paul uses ἐστε (“you are the temple of God”), as well as the surrounding context here in which the second person verb or pronoun is used in vv. 14, 17, and 18, the second person reading seems obviously motivated. The first person reading can explain the rise of the other reading, but the reverse is not as easily done. Consequently, the first person reading of ἡμεῖς…ἐσμεν has all the credentials of authenticity.
64. 2 Corinthians 6:16 tn Or “live among them,” “live with them.” sn I will live in them. The OT text that lies behind this passage (Lev 26:11-12) speaks of God dwelling in the midst of his people. The Greek preposition en in the phrase en autois (“in them”) can also have that meaning (“among” or “with”). However, Paul appears to be extending the imagery here to involve God (as the Spirit) dwelling in his people, since he calls believers “the temple of the living God” in the previous clause, imagery he uses elsewhere in his writings (1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:21-22).
65. 2 Corinthians 6:16 sn A quotation from Lev 26:12; also similar to Jer 32:38; Ezek 37:27.
66. 2 Corinthians 6:17 sn A quotation from Isa 52:11.
67. 2 Corinthians 6:17 tn Or “will receive.”
68. 2 Corinthians 6:17 sn A paraphrased quotation from Ezek 20:41.
69. 2 Corinthians 6:18 sn A paraphrased quotation from 2 Sam 7:14 and Isa 43:6.
70. 2 Corinthians 6:18 tn Traditionally, “the Lord Almighty.” BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…κύριος π. (oft. LXX) 2 Cor 6:18.”
71. 2 Corinthians 7:1 tn Or “purify ourselves.”
72. 2 Corinthians 7:1 tn Grk “from every defilement of the flesh.”
73. 2 Corinthians 7:1 tn Grk “accomplishing.” The participle has been translated as a finite verb due to considerations of contemporary English style, and “thus” has been supplied to indicate that it represents a result of the previous cleansing.
74. 2 Corinthians 7:1 tn Grk “in the fear of God.”
75. 2 Corinthians 7:2 tn The phrase “in your hearts” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
76. 2 Corinthians 7:2 tn “We have ruined no one” may refer to financial loss (“we have caused no one to suffer financial loss”) but it may also refer to the undermining of faith (“we have corrupted no one’s faith,”). Both options are mentioned in L&N 20.23.
77. 2 Corinthians 7:2 tn Or “we have taken advantage of no one.”
78. 2 Corinthians 7:3 sn See 2 Cor 1:4-7.
79. 2 Corinthians 7:3 tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
80. 2 Corinthians 7:4 tn Grk “great is my boasting.”
81. 2 Corinthians 7:4 tn Or “comfort.”
82. 2 Corinthians 7:4 tn Grk “I am overflowing with joy in all our suffering”; the words “in the midst of” are not in the Greek text but are supplied to clarify that Paul is not rejoicing in the suffering itself, but in his relationship with the Corinthians in the midst of all his suffering.
83. 2 Corinthians 7:5 tn Grk “our flesh.”
84. 2 Corinthians 7:6 tn Or “comforts,” “consoles.”
85. 2 Corinthians 7:6 tn Or “comforted,” “consoled.”
86. 2 Corinthians 7:7 tn Because of the length and complexity of this Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the phrase “We were encouraged.”
87. 2 Corinthians 7:7 tn Or “comfort,” “consolation.”
88. 2 Corinthians 7:7 tn Grk “by the encouragement with which he was encouraged by you.” The passive construction was translated as an active one in keeping with contemporary English style, and the repeated word “encouraged” was replaced in the translation by “gave” to avoid redundancy in the translation.
89. 2 Corinthians 7:7 tn Or “your grieving,” “your deep sorrow.”
90. 2 Corinthians 7:7 tn Or “your zeal.”
91. 2 Corinthians 7:8 tn Grk “if I grieved you.”
92. 2 Corinthians 7:8 sn My letter. Paul is referring to the “severe” letter mentioned in 2 Cor 2:4.
93. 2 Corinthians 7:8 tn Grk “I do not regret”; direct objects in Greek must often be supplied from the context. Here one could simply supply “it,” but since Paul is referring to the effects of his previous letter, clarity is improved if “having written it” is supplied.
94. 2 Corinthians 7:8 tn Grk “I did regret”; the direct object “it” must be supplied from the context.
95. 2 Corinthians 7:8 tc A few significant mss (P^46c B D* it sa) lack γάρ (gar, “for”), while the majority of witnesses have it (א C D¹ F G Ψ 0243 33 1739 1881 M sy bo). Even though P^46* omits γάρ, it has the same sense (viz., a subordinate clause) because it reads the participle βλέπων (blepōn, “seeing”; the Vulgate does the same). A decision is difficult because although the overwhelming external evidence is on the side of the conjunction, the lack of γάρ is a significantly harder reading, for the whole clause is something of an anacoluthon. Without the conjunction, the sentence reads more harshly. This would fit with Paul’s “vehemence of spirit” (A. T. Robertson, A Grammar of the Greek New Testament, 435) that is found especially in 2 Corinthians and Galatians. However, the mss that omit the conjunction are prone to such tendencies at times. In this instance, the conjunction should probably stand.
96. 2 Corinthians 7:8 tn Grk “my letter grieved you.”
97. 2 Corinthians 7:9 tn Grk “were grieved” (so also twice later in the verse).
98. 2 Corinthians 7:9 tn Grk “corresponding to God,” that is, corresponding to God’s will (κατὰ θεόν, kata theon). The same phrase occurs in vv. 10 and 11.
99. 2 Corinthians 7:9 tn Grk “so that you did not suffer loss.”
100. 2 Corinthians 7:11 tn Grk “this very thing, to be grieved.”
101. 2 Corinthians 7:11 tn The words “of yourselves” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
102. 2 Corinthians 7:11 sn What indignation refers to the Corinthians’ indignation at the offender.
103. 2 Corinthians 7:11 tn Or “what zeal.”
104. 2 Corinthians 7:11 sn That is, punishment for the offender.
105. 2 Corinthians 7:12 tn Grk “but in order that your eagerness on our behalf might be revealed to you.”
106. 2 Corinthians 7:13 tn Or “all of you have put his mind at ease.”
107. 2 Corinthians 7:14 tn Grk “I have not been put to shame”; the words “by you” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
108. 2 Corinthians 7:14 tn Grk “just as we spoke everything to you in truth.”
109. 2 Corinthians 7:14 tn The words “about you” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
110. 2 Corinthians 7:15 tn Or “is all the more.”
111. 2 Corinthians 8:1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:8.
112. 2 Corinthians 8:2 tn Or “riches.”
113. 2 Corinthians 8:3 tn Or “spontaneously.”
114. 2 Corinthians 8:4 tn Or “of ministering to.”
115. 2 Corinthians 8:6 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.
116. 2 Corinthians 8:6 tn Or “we exhorted.”
117. 2 Corinthians 8:6 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.
118. 2 Corinthians 8:6 tn Grk “this grace.”
119. 2 Corinthians 8:7 tn Grk “as you abound.”
120. 2 Corinthians 8:7 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] M lat), altered the text to read “your love for us” (so NIV; Grk ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγάπῃ [ex humōn en hēmin agapē]). The reading ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν ἀγάπῃ (ex hēmōn en humin agapē) is found, however, in excellent and early witnesses (P⁴⁶ 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.
121. 2 Corinthians 8:7 tn Grk “you abound.”
122. 2 Corinthians 8:7 tn Grk “this grace.”
123. 2 Corinthians 8:8 tn Grk “by means of the eagerness of others.”
124. 2 Corinthians 8:9 tn Or “generosity.”
125. 2 Corinthians 8:10 tn Grk “who.”
126. 2 Corinthians 8:11 tn Grk “and now also complete the doing.”
127. 2 Corinthians 8:11 tn Grk “just as the eagerness to want [it].”
128. 2 Corinthians 8:11 tn Grk “complete from what you have.”
129. 2 Corinthians 8:12 tn The words “the gift itself” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Translators often supply an English phrase like “it is” (NASB) but in the context, Paul is clearly referring to the collection Titus was to oversee (2 Cor 8:4-7). Therefore there is no reason not to specify the referent (the gift) more narrowly for clarity.
130. 2 Corinthians 8:14 tn Or “their lack.”
131. 2 Corinthians 8:15 tn The word “gathered” is not in the Greek text, but is implied (so also for the second occurrence of the word later in the verse).
132. 2 Corinthians 8:15 sn A quotation from Exod 16:18.
133. 2 Corinthians 8:16 tn Or “eagerness.”
134. 2 Corinthians 8:17 tn The comparative form of this adjective is used here with elative meaning.
135. 2 Corinthians 8:17 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
136. 2 Corinthians 8:17 tn Or “of his own free will.”
137. 2 Corinthians 8:18 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
138. 2 Corinthians 8:18 tn Grk “the brother of whom the praise in the gospel [is] throughout all the churches.”
139. 2 Corinthians 8:19 tn Grk “gospel, and not only this, but.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation.
140. 2 Corinthians 8:19 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the brother mentioned in v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
141. 2 Corinthians 8:19 tn That is, the offering or collection being taken to assist impoverished Christians.
142. 2 Corinthians 8:19 tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied (see L&N 25.68).
143. 2 Corinthians 8:20 tn “This” refers to sending the brother mentioned in 2 Cor 8:18 to Corinth along with Titus. The words “We did this” have no equivalent in the Greek text, but are necessary to maintain the thought flow in English. The Greek participle that begins v. 20 continues the sentence begun in v. 18 which concerns the sending of the other brother mentioned there.
144. 2 Corinthians 8:21 sn An allusion to Prov 3:4.
145. 2 Corinthians 8:22 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
146. 2 Corinthians 8:23 tn Grk “If concerning Titus” (εἴτε ὑπὲρ Τίτου, eite huper Titou); the Greek sentence opens with an ellipsis which must be supplied: If [there is any question] about Titus.”
147. 2 Corinthians 8:23 tn Grk “apostles.”
148. 2 Corinthians 8:24 tc The sense of this translation is attested by the fact that most of the later mss, along with several early and significant ones (א C D² Ψ 0225 0243 1739 1881 M lat), have the imperative verb ἐνδείξασθε (endeixasthe) in place of the participle ἐνδεικνύμενοι (endeiknumenoi), which is found in B D* F G 33. Since an imperatival participle is more Hebraic in style, many scribes would not have understood the idiom as easily and would have been likely to change the participle to an imperative (so TCGNT 513-14). But there is no good reason why scribes would change the imperative into a participle. Thus, ἐνδεικνύμενοι is almost surely the wording of the original text.tn In the Greek text ἐνδεικνύμενοι (endeiknumenoi) is a present participle which is translated as an imperative verb (see BDF §468; ExSyn 650-52).
149. 2 Corinthians 8:24 tn Or “our boasting about you.”
150. 2 Corinthians 9:1 tn Or “it is superfluous.”
151. 2 Corinthians 9:1 tn Or “this ministry,” “this contribution.”
152. 2 Corinthians 9:2 tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
153. 2 Corinthians 9:2 tn Grk “concerning which I keep boasting to the Macedonians about you.” A new sentence was started here and the translation was simplified by removing the relative clause and repeating the antecedent “this eagerness of yours.”
154. 2 Corinthians 9:2 tn The words “to give” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
155. 2 Corinthians 9:2 tn The words “to participate” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
156. 2 Corinthians 9:2 sn Most of them is a reference to the Macedonians (cf. v. 4).
157. 2 Corinthians 9:3 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
158. 2 Corinthians 9:3 tn That is, ready with the collection for the saints.
159. 2 Corinthians 9:4 tn Or “be disgraced”; Grk “be put to shame.”
160. 2 Corinthians 9:4 tn Grk “by this confidence”; the words “we had in you” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied as a necessary clarification for the English reader.
161. 2 Corinthians 9:5 tn Grk “the blessing.”
162. 2 Corinthians 9:5 tn Grk “a blessing.”
163. 2 Corinthians 9:5 tn Grk “as a covetousness”; that is, a gift given grudgingly or under compulsion.
164. 2 Corinthians 9:6 tn Or “bountifully”; so also in the next occurrence in the verse.
165. 2 Corinthians 9:7 tn Or “must do.” The words “of you” and “should give” are not in the Greek text, which literally reads, “Each one just as he has decided in his heart.” The missing words are an ellipsis; these or similar phrases must be supplied for the English reader.
166. 2 Corinthians 9:7 tn Or “in his mind.”
167. 2 Corinthians 9:7 tn Or “not from regret”; Grk “not out of grief.”
168. 2 Corinthians 9:7 tn Or “not out of a sense of duty”; Grk “from necessity.”
169. 2 Corinthians 9:8 tn Or “abound.”
170. 2 Corinthians 9:8 tn Or “so that by having enough.” The Greek participle can be translated as a participle of cause (“because you have enough”) or means (“by having enough”).
171. 2 Corinthians 9:8 tn Or “abound.”
172. 2 Corinthians 9:9 sn He in the quotation refers to the righteous person.
173. 2 Corinthians 9:9 sn A quotation from Ps 112:9.
174. 2 Corinthians 9:10 tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
175. 2 Corinthians 9:11 tn Grk “in every way for every generosity,” or “he will always make you rich enough to be generous at all times” (L&N 57.29).
176. 2 Corinthians 9:12 tn Or “not only supplying.”
177. 2 Corinthians 9:13 tn Or “proof,” or perhaps “testing” (NRSV).
178. 2 Corinthians 9:13 tn Or “ministry.”
179. 2 Corinthians 9:13 tn Or “your partnership”; Grk “your fellowship.”
180. 2 Corinthians 9:14 tn Grk “the extraordinary grace of God to you”; the point is that God has given or shown grace to the Corinthians.
181. 2 Corinthians 9:15 tn “Let us thank God for his gift which cannot be described with words” (L&N 33.202).
182. 2 Corinthians 10:1 tn The Greek pronoun (“you”) is plural.
183. 2 Corinthians 10:1 tn The word “personally” is supplied to reflect the force of the Greek intensive pronoun αὐτός (autos) at the beginning of the verse.
184. 2 Corinthians 10:1 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 (prautēs and epieikeia) 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.”
185. 2 Corinthians 10:1 tn Or “who lack confidence.”
186. 2 Corinthians 10:1 tn Or “when face-to-face with.”
187. 2 Corinthians 10:1 tn Or “but bold.”
188. 2 Corinthians 10:2 tn Grk “consider us as walking.”
189. 2 Corinthians 10:2 tn Grk “according to the flesh.”
190. 2 Corinthians 10:3 tn Grk “we walk.”
191. 2 Corinthians 10:3 tn Grk “in the flesh.”
192. 2 Corinthians 10:3 tn Grk “according to the flesh.”
193. 2 Corinthians 10:4 tn Grk “are not fleshly [weapons].” The repetition of the word “warfare” does not occur in the Greek text, but is supplied for clarity.
194. 2 Corinthians 10:4 tn Or “but (are) divinely powerful,” “but they have divine power,” or “but are powerful for God’s [service]”; Grk “but are powerful to God.”
195. 2 Corinthians 10:4 sn Ultimately Paul is referring here to the false arguments of his opponents, calling them figuratively “strongholds.” This Greek word (ὀχύρωμα, ochurōma) is used only here in the NT.
196. 2 Corinthians 10:4 tn Or “speculations.”
197. 2 Corinthians 10:5 tn The phrase “every arrogant obstacle” could be translated simply “all arrogance” (so L&N 88.207).
198. 2 Corinthians 10:5 tn Grk “to the obedience of Christ,” but since Χριστοῦ (Christou) is clearly an objective genitive here, it is better to translate “to make it obey Christ.”
199. 2 Corinthians 10:6 tn Or “punish all disobedience.”
200. 2 Corinthians 10:7 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).
201. 2 Corinthians 10:8 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.
202. 2 Corinthians 10:8 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).
203. 2 Corinthians 10:10 tn Or “unimpressive.”
204. 2 Corinthians 10:10 tn Or “is contemptible”; Grk “is despised.”
205. 2 Corinthians 10:11 tn Grk “what we are in word.”
206. 2 Corinthians 10:12 tn Or “they are unintelligent.”
207. 2 Corinthians 10:13 tn Or “boast excessively.” The phrase εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα (eis 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).
208. 2 Corinthians 10:13 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.
209. 2 Corinthians 10:13 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.
210. 2 Corinthians 10:14 tn Grk “with the gospel of Christ,” but since Χριστοῦ (Christou) is clearly an objective genitive here, it is better to translate “with the gospel about Christ.”
211. 2 Corinthians 10:15 tn Or “boast excessively.” The phrase εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα (eis 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).
212. 2 Corinthians 10:15 tn Or “in the labors.”
213. 2 Corinthians 10:15 tn Grk “but we have the hope.”
214. 2 Corinthians 10:15 tn Or “greatly enlarged.”
215. 2 Corinthians 10:15 tn That is, Paul’s work might be greatly expanded within the area of activity assigned to him by God.
216. 2 Corinthians 10:17 tn The traditional translation (“let the one who boasts boast in the Lord”) can be understood as merely permissive by the English reader, but the Greek verb καυχάσθω (kauchasthō) is a third person imperative.sn A quotation from Jer 9:24 (also quoted in 1 Cor 1:31).
217. 2 Corinthians 11:2 tn That is, to Christ.
218. 2 Corinthians 11:2 tn Or “chaste.”
219. 2 Corinthians 11:3 tn Grk “I fear lest somehow.”
220. 2 Corinthians 11:3 tn Or “the snake.”
221. 2 Corinthians 11:3 tn Or “craftiness.”
222. 2 Corinthians 11:3 tn Or “corrupted,” “seduced.”
223. 2 Corinthians 11:3 tc Although most mss (א² H Ψ 0121 0243 1739 1881 M) lack “and pure” (καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος, kai tēs hagnotētos; Grk “and purity”) several significant and early witnesses (P⁴⁶ א* B D^[2] F G 33 81 104 ar r co) retain these words. Their presence in such mss across such a wide geographical distribution argues for their authenticity. The omission from the majority of mss can be explained by haplography, since the -τητος ending of ἁγνότητος is identical to the ending of ἁπλότητος (haplotētos, “sincerity”) three words back (ἁπλότητος καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος); further, since the meanings of “sincerity” and “purity” are similar they might seem redundant. A copyist would scarcely notice the omission because Paul’s statement still makes sense without “and from purity.”
224. 2 Corinthians 11:4 tn Or “preaches.”
225. 2 Corinthians 11:4 tn Grk “another Jesus whom we have not proclaimed.”
226. 2 Corinthians 11:4 tn Grk “a different spirit which you did not receive.”
227. 2 Corinthians 11:4 tn Grk “a different gospel which you did not accept.”
228. 2 Corinthians 11:4 tn Or “you endure it very well.”
229. 2 Corinthians 11:5 tn The implicit irony in Paul’s remark is brought out well by the TEV “I do not think that I am the least bit inferior to those very special so-called ‘apostles’ of yours!”sn The ‘super-apostles’ refers either (1) to the original apostles (the older interpretation) or (2) more probably, to Paul’s opponents in Corinth, in which case the designation is ironic.
230. 2 Corinthians 11:6 sn Unskilled in speaking means not professionally trained as a rhetorician.
231. 2 Corinthians 11:7 sn Paul is referring to humbling himself to the point of doing manual labor to support himself.
232. 2 Corinthians 11:7 tn Or “preached.”
233. 2 Corinthians 11:8 sn That is, serve them free of charge (cf. the end of v. 7).
234. 2 Corinthians 11:9 tn Grk “you, and when.” A new sentence was started here in the translation.
235. 2 Corinthians 11:9 tn If the participle ἐλθόντες (elthontes) is taken as temporal rather than adjectival, the translation would be, “for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, fully supplied my needs” (similar to NASB).
236. 2 Corinthians 11:9 tn Grk “needs, and I kept.” A new sentence was started here in the translation.
237. 2 Corinthians 11:10 tn That is, that Paul offers the gospel free of charge to the Corinthians (see 2 Cor 11:7).
238. 2 Corinthians 11:10 tn Or “silenced.”
239. 2 Corinthians 11:11 tn Grk “God knows!” The words “I do” are supplied for clarity. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
240. 2 Corinthians 11:12 tn Grk “an opportunity, so that they may be found just like us.”
241. 2 Corinthians 11:13 tn Or “dishonest.”
242. 2 Corinthians 11:13 tn Or “workers, masquerading.”
243. 2 Corinthians 11:14 tn Or “Satan himself masquerades.”
244. 2 Corinthians 11:15 tn Or “also masquerade.”
245. 2 Corinthians 11:15 tn Or “their works.”
246. 2 Corinthians 11:16 tn Or “am foolish.”
247. 2 Corinthians 11:17 tn Grk “with this confidence of boasting.” The genitive καυχήσεως (kauchēseōs) has been translated as an attributive genitive (the noun in the genitive functions as an adjective of the noun modified).
248. 2 Corinthians 11:17 tn Or “say with the Lord’s authority.”
249. 2 Corinthians 11:18 sn Many is a reference to Paul’s opponents.
250. 2 Corinthians 11:18 tn Grk “according to the flesh.”
251. 2 Corinthians 11:19 tn Or “you tolerate.”
252. 2 Corinthians 11:20 tn Or “you tolerate.”
253. 2 Corinthians 11:20 tn See L&N 88.212.
254. 2 Corinthians 11:21 tn Or “my shame.”
255. 2 Corinthians 11:21 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).
256. 2 Corinthians 11:21 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.
257. 2 Corinthians 11:21 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.
258. 2 Corinthians 11:24 tn Grk “forty less one”; this was a standard sentence. “Lashes” is supplied to clarify for the modern reader what is meant.
259. 2 Corinthians 11:25 sn Beaten with a rod refers to the Roman punishment of admonitio according to BDAG 902 s.v. ῥαβδίζω. Acts 16:22 describes one of these occasions in Philippi; in this case it was administered by the city magistrates, who had wide powers in a military colony.
260. 2 Corinthians 11:25 sn Received a stoning. See Acts 14:19, where this incident is described.
261. 2 Corinthians 11:26 tn Or “bandits.” The word normally refers more to highwaymen (“robbers”) but can also refer to insurrectionists or revolutionaries (“bandits”).
262. 2 Corinthians 11:26 tn Or “desert.”
263. 2 Corinthians 11:27 tn The two different words for labor are translated “in hard work and toil” by L&N 42.48.
264. 2 Corinthians 11:27 tn Grk “in cold and nakedness.” Paul does not mean complete nakedness, however, which would have been repugnant to a Jew; he refers instead to the lack of sufficient clothing, especially in cold weather. A related word is used to 1 Cor 4:11, also in combination with experiencing hunger and thirst.
265. 2 Corinthians 11:28 sn Apart from other things. Paul refers here either (1) to the external sufferings just mentioned, or (2) he refers to other things he has left unmentioned.
266. 2 Corinthians 11:28 tn “Anxious concern,” so translated in L&N 25.224.
267. 2 Corinthians 11:29 tn Or “who is caused to stumble.”
268. 2 Corinthians 11:30 tn Grk “If boasting is necessary.”
269. 2 Corinthians 11:30 tn Or “about the things related to my weakness.”
270. 2 Corinthians 11:32 tn Grk “ethnarch.”sn The governor was an official called an “ethnarch” who was appointed to rule on behalf of a king over a certain region.
271. 2 Corinthians 11:32 tn Grk “the city of the Damascenes.”
272. 2 Corinthians 11:32 tn Or “to seize,” “to catch.”
273. 2 Corinthians 11:33 tn In Acts 9:25 the same basket used in Paul’s escape is called a σπυρίς (spuris), a basket larger than a κόφινος (kophinos). It was very likely made out of rope, so the translation “rope-basket” is used.
274. 2 Corinthians 12:1 tn Grk “Boasting is necessary.”
275. 2 Corinthians 12:4 sn In the NT, paradise is mentioned three times. In Luke 23:43 it refers to the abode of the righteous dead. In Rev 2:7 it refers to the restoration of Edenic paradise predicted in Isa 51:3 and Ezek 36:35. The reference here in 2 Cor 12:4 is probably to be translated as parallel to the mention of the “third heaven” in v. 2. Assuming that the “first heaven” would be atmospheric heaven (the sky) and “second heaven” the more distant stars and planets, “third heaven” would refer to the place where God dwells. This is much more likely than some variation on the seven heavens mentioned in the pseudepigraphic book 2 Enoch and in other nonbiblical and rabbinic works.
276. 2 Corinthians 12:4 tn Or “things that cannot be put into words.”
277. 2 Corinthians 12:4 tn Grk “a man.”
278. 2 Corinthians 12:6 tn Or “speaking.”
279. 2 Corinthians 12:6 tn Or “may think of.”
280. 2 Corinthians 12:7 tc Most mss (P⁴⁶ D Ψ 1881 M) lack διό (dio, “Therefore”), but the widespread distribution and quality of mss which include it (א A B F G 0243 33 81 1175 1739) argues for its authenticity. Internally, its case is equally strong in that its inclusion is grammatically rough (διό is hardly necessary to convey purpose, especially since Paul uses ἵνα [hina, “so that”] next).
281. 2 Corinthians 12:7 tn Or “to harass.”
282. 2 Corinthians 12:7 tn The phrase “so that I might not become arrogant” is repeated here because it occurs in the Greek text two times in the verse. Although redundant, it is repeated because of the emphatic nature of its affirmation.
283. 2 Corinthians 12:9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” because of the contrast implicit in the context.
284. 2 Corinthians 12:9 tn Or “is sufficient.”
285. 2 Corinthians 12:9 tc The majority of later mss (א² A^c D¹ Ψ 0243 0278 33 1739 1881 M) as well as some versional witnesses include the pronoun “my” here, but the omission of the pronoun has excellent external support (P^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.tn The pronoun “my” was supplied in the translation to clarify the sense of Paul’s expression.
286. 2 Corinthians 12:9 tn Or “my power comes to full strength.”
287. 2 Corinthians 12:9 tn “Most gladly,” a comparative form used with superlative meaning and translated as such.
288. 2 Corinthians 12:9 tn Or “may rest on.”
289. 2 Corinthians 12:10 tn Or “I take delight in.”
290. 2 Corinthians 12:10 tn Or “calamities.”
291. 2 Corinthians 12:11 tn Or “I am in no way inferior.”
292. 2 Corinthians 12:12 tn Or “patience,” “endurance.”
293. 2 Corinthians 12:12 tn Or “and miracles.”
294. 2 Corinthians 12:13 tn Grk “For in what respect.”
295. 2 Corinthians 12:14 tn Grk “children ought not,” but this might give the impression that children are not supposed to support sick or aging parents in need of help. That is not what Paul is saying. His point is that children should not have to pay their parent’s way.
296. 2 Corinthians 12:15 tn Grk “souls.”
297. 2 Corinthians 12:17 tn The Greek construction anticipates a negative answer, indicated by the ‘tag’ question “have I?” at the end of the clause. The question is rhetorical.
298. 2 Corinthians 12:18 tn The words “to visit you” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, and must be supplied for the modern reader.
299. 2 Corinthians 12:18 tn Grk “the.”
300. 2 Corinthians 12:18 tn The Greek construction anticipates a negative answer, indicated by the ‘tag’ question “did he?” at the end of the clause.
301. 2 Corinthians 12:18 tn Grk “[Did we not walk] in the same tracks?” This is an idiom that means to imitate someone else or to behave as they do. Paul’s point is that he and Titus have conducted themselves in the same way toward the Corinthians. If Titus did not take advantage of the Corinthians, then neither did Paul.
302. 2 Corinthians 12:19 tc The reading “all this time” (πάλαι, palai) is found in several early and significant Alexandrian and Western witnesses including א* A B F G 0243 6 33 81 365 1175 1739 1881 lat; the reading πάλιν (palin, “again”) is read by א² D Ψ 0278 M sy bo; the reading οὐ πάλαι (ou palai) is read by P⁴⁶, making the question even more emphatic. The reading of P⁴⁶ could only have arisen from πάλαι. The reading πάλιν is significantly easier (“are you once again thinking that we are defending ourselves?”), for it softens Paul’s tone considerably. It thus seems to be a motivated reading and cannot easily explain the rise of πάλαι. Further, πάλαι has considerable support in the Alexandrian and Western witnesses, rendering it virtually certain as the autographic wording here.
303. 2 Corinthians 12:19 tn Or “for your strengthening”; Grk “for your edification.”
304. 2 Corinthians 12:20 tn Grk “and I will be found by you.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation.
305. 2 Corinthians 12:20 tn The words “I am afraid that” are not repeated in the Greek text, but are needed for clarity.
306. 2 Corinthians 12:20 tn Or “intense anger, hostility.”
307. 2 Corinthians 12:21 tn The words “I am afraid that” are not repeated in the Greek text from v. 20, but are needed for clarity.
308. 2 Corinthians 12:21 tn Or “I will mourn over.”
309. 2 Corinthians 13:1 tn The word “visit” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
310. 2 Corinthians 13:1 tn Grk “By the mouth.”
311. 2 Corinthians 13:1 sn A quotation from Deut 19:15 (also quoted in Matt 18:16; 1 Tim 5:19).
312. 2 Corinthians 13:2 tn The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
313. 2 Corinthians 13:3 tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
314. 2 Corinthians 13:5 tn Or “unless indeed you are disqualified.”
315. 2 Corinthians 13:6 tn Or “that we are not disqualified.”
316. 2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “that we may appear to be approved.”
317. 2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “what is good.”
318. 2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “even if we appear disapproved.”
319. 2 Corinthians 13:9 tn Or “fully equipped.”
320. 2 Corinthians 13:10 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.”
321. 2 Corinthians 13:10 tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
322. 2 Corinthians 13:11 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:8.
323. 2 Corinthians 13:12 sn The versification of vv. 12 and 13 in the NET (so also NRSV, NLT) is according to the versification in the NA²⁸ and UBS⁵ editions of the Greek text. Some translations, however, break the material up into three verses, i.e., 12-14 (NKJV, NASB, NIV). The same material has been translated in each case; the only difference is the versification of that material.
324. 2 Corinthians 13:13 tn Or “communion.”
325. 2 Corinthians 13:13 tc Most witnesses, especially later ones (א² D Ψ M lat sy bo), conclude this letter with ἀμήν (amēn, “amen”), while several early and significant mss (P⁴⁶ א* A B F G 0243 6 33 630 1175 1739 1881 sa) lack the particle. Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. That so many diverse witnesses lacked the word here is strong testimony to its absence for the original text of 2 Corinthians.