2 Corinthians 2:3

2:3 And I wrote this very thing to you, ¹  so that when I came ²  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.

2 Corinthians 9:3

9:3 But I am sending ³  these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready ⁴  just as I kept telling them.

2 Corinthians 10:2

10:2 now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving ⁵  according to human standards. ⁶ 

2 Corinthians 11:16

Paul’s Sufferings for Christ

11:16 I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. ⁷  But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

2 Corinthians 11:21

11:21 (To my disgrace ⁸  I must say that we were too weak for that!) ⁹  But whatever anyone else dares to boast about ¹⁰  (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing. ¹¹ 

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 comparison ¹²  to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

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¹ tn The words “to you” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

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

³ tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.

⁴ tn That is, ready with the collection for the saints.

⁵ tn Grk “consider us as walking.”

⁶ tn Grk “according to the flesh.”

⁷ tn Or “am foolish.”

⁸ tn Or “my shame.”

⁹ 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).

¹⁰ 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.

¹¹ 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.

¹² tn Or “I am in no way inferior.”