2 Corinthians 1:4

1:4 who comforts us in all our troubles¹ so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble² with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 2:4

2:4 For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you.³

2 Corinthians 5:10-11

5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,⁴ so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.⁵

The Message of Reconciliation

5:11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord,⁶ we try to persuade⁷ people,⁸ but we are well known⁹ to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.

2 Corinthians 7:9

7:9 Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad,¹⁰ but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended,¹¹ so that you were not harmed¹² in any way by us.

2 Corinthians 9:2

9:2 because I know your eagerness to help.¹³ I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours,¹⁴ that Achaia has been ready to give¹⁵ since last year, and your zeal to participate¹⁶ has stirred up most of them.¹⁷

2 Corinthians 9:7

9:7 Each one of you should give¹⁸ just as he has decided in his heart,¹⁹ not reluctantly²⁰ or under compulsion,²¹ because God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 11:9

11:9 When²² I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs.²³ I²⁴ kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

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.

2 Corinthians 13:10

13:10 Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive²⁵ I may not have to deal harshly with you²⁶ by using my authority – the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

¹tn Or “our trials”; traditionally, “our affliction.” The term θλῖψις (qliyi") refers to trouble (including persecution) that involves direct suffering (L&N 22.2).

²tn Or “any trials”; traditionally, “any affliction.”

³tn Or “the love that I have in great measure for you.”

⁴sn The judgment seat (βῆμα, bhma) 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.

⁵tn Or “whether good or bad.”

⁶tn Or “because we know what it means to fear the Lord.”

⁷tn The present tense of πείθομεν (peiqomen) has been translated as a conative present.

⁸tn 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).

⁹tn 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.”

¹⁰tn Grk “were grieved” (so also twice later in the verse).

¹¹tn Grk “corresponding to God,” that is, corresponding to God’s will (κατὰ θεόν, kata qeon). The same phrase occurs in vv. 10 and 11.

¹²tn Grk “so that you did not suffer loss.”

¹³tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

¹⁴tn 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.”

¹⁵tn The words “to give” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

¹⁶tn The words “to participate” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

¹⁷sn Most of them is a reference to the Macedonians (cf. v. 4).

¹⁸tn 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.

¹⁹tn Or “in his mind.”

²⁰tn Or “not from regret”; Grk “not out of grief.”

²¹tn Or “not out of a sense of duty”; Grk “from necessity.”

²²tn Grk “you, and when.” A new sentence was started here in the translation.

²³tn If the participle ἐλθόντες (elqonte") 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).

²⁴tn Grk “needs, and I kept.” A new sentence was started here in the translation.

²⁵tn 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.”

²⁶tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.