2 Corinthians 1:8

1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,¹ regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia,² that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living.

2 Corinthians 4:4

4:4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe³ so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel⁴ of Christ,⁵ who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:14

4:14 We do so⁶ because we know that the one who raised up Jesus⁷ will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence.

2 Corinthians 5:4

5:4 For we groan while we are in this tent,⁸ since we are weighed down,⁹ because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

2 Corinthians 5:16

5:16 So then from now on we acknowledge¹⁰ no one from an outward human point of view.¹¹ Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view,¹² now we do not know him in that way any longer.

2 Corinthians 7:3

7:3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I told you before¹³ that you are in our hearts so that we die together and live together with you.¹⁴

2 Corinthians 7:8

7:8 For even if I made you sad¹⁵ by my letter,¹⁶ I do not regret having written it¹⁷ (even though I did regret it,¹⁸ for¹⁹ I see that my letter made you sad,²⁰ though only for a short time).

2 Corinthians 10:7

10:7 You are looking at outward appearances.²¹ 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 10:15

10:15 Nor do we boast beyond certain limits²² in the work²³ done by others, but we hope²⁴ that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded²⁵ among you according to our limits,²⁶

2 Corinthians 11:16

Paul’s Sufferings for Christ

11:16 I say again, let no one think that I am a fool.²⁷ But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

2 Corinthians 12:2

12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven.

2 Corinthians 12:11

The Signs of an Apostle

12:11 I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison²⁸ to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

2 Corinthians 12:19

12:19 Have you been thinking all this time²⁹ that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.³⁰

2 Corinthians 13:5

13:5 Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless, indeed, you fail the test!³¹

¹tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1., where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).

²tn Grk “Asia”; in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia, made up of about one-third of the west and southwest end of modern Asia Minor. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia.

³tn Or “of unbelievers.”

⁴tn Grk “the gospel of the glory”; δόξης (doxhs) has been translated as an attributive genitive.

⁵tn Or “so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ would not be evident to them” (L&N 28.37).

⁶tn Grk “speak, because.” A new sentence was started here in the translation, with the words “We do so” supplied to preserve the connection with the preceding statement.

⁷tc ‡ Several important witnesses (א C D F G Ψ 1881), as well as the Byzantine text, add κύριον (kurion) here, changing the reading to “the Lord Jesus.” Although the external evidence in favor of the shorter reading is slim, the witnesses are important, early, and diverse (Ì⁴⁶ B [0243 33] 629 [630] 1175* [1739] pc r sa). Very likely scribes with pietistic motives added the word κύριον, as they were prone to do, thus compounding this title for the Lord.

⁸sn See the note in 5:1 on the phrase the tent we live in.

⁹tn Or “we are burdened.”

¹⁰tn Grk “we know.”

¹¹tn Grk “no one according to the flesh.”

¹²tn Grk “we have known Christ according to the flesh.”

¹³sn See 2 Cor 1:4-7.

¹⁴tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

¹⁵tn Grk “if I grieved you.”

¹⁶sn My letter. Paul is referring to the “severe” letter mentioned in 2 Cor 2:4.

¹⁷tn 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.

¹⁸tn Grk “I did regret”; the direct object “it” must be supplied from the context.

¹⁹tc A few important mss (Ì^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 Ï sy bo). Even though Ì^46* omits γάρ, it has the same sense (viz., a subordinate clause) because it reads the participle βλέπων (blepwn, “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.

²⁰tn Grk “my letter grieved you.”

²¹tn 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).

²²tn 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).

²³tn Or “in the labors.”

²⁴tn Grk “but we have the hope.”

²⁵tn Or “greatly enlarged.”

²⁶tn That is, Paul’s work might be greatly expanded within the area of activity assigned to him by God.

²⁷tn Or “am foolish.”

²⁸tn Or “I am in no way inferior.”

²⁹tc The reading “all this time” (πάλαι, palai) is found in several early and important 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 Ï sy bo; the reading οὐ πάλαι (ou palai) is read by Ì⁴⁶, making the question even more emphatic. The reading of Ì⁴⁶ 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 original wording here.

³⁰tn Or “for your strengthening”; Grk “for your edification.”

³¹tn Or “unless indeed you are disqualified.”