¹ tn 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).

² tn 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.

³ tn Grk “so that thanks may be given by many.” The words “to God” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. The passive construction has been converted to an active one for clarity, in keeping with contemporary English style.

⁴ tn Or “of unbelievers.”

⁵ tn Grk “the gospel of the glory”; δόξης (doxhs) has been translated as an attributive genitive.

⁶ tn Or “so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ would not be evident to them” (L&N 28.37).

⁷ sn See the note in 5:1 on the phrase the tent we live in.

⁸ tn Or “we are burdened.”

⁹ tn Or “because we know what it means to fear the Lord.”

¹⁰ tn The present tense of πείθομεν (peiqomen) has been translated as a conative present.

¹¹ tn 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).

¹² 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.”

¹³ tn Grk “we know.”

¹⁴ tn Grk “no one according to the flesh.”

¹⁵ tn Grk “we have known Christ according to the flesh.”

¹⁶ tn Grk “if I grieved you.”

¹⁷ sn My letter. Paul is referring to the “severe” letter mentioned in 2 Cor 2:4.

¹⁸ 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.

¹⁹ tn Grk “I did regret”; the direct object “it” must be supplied from the context.

²⁰ tc 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.

²¹ tn Grk “my letter grieved you.”

²² tn Or “generosity.”

²³ tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

²⁴ 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.”

²⁵ tn The words “to give” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

²⁶ tn The words “to participate” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

²⁷ sn Most of them is a reference to the Macedonians (cf. v. 4).

²⁸ tn Or “they are unintelligent.”

²⁹ tn Or “speaking.”

³⁰ tn Or “may think of.”

³¹ 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.