¹ 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.

² tn Or “we exhorted.”

³ 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.

⁴ tn Grk “this grace.”

⁵ tn Grk “and now also complete the doing.”

⁶ tn Grk “just as the eagerness to want [it].”

⁷ tn Grk “so also it might be completed.” The passive construction was converted to an active one in the translation in keeping with contemporary English style.

⁸ tn Grk “completed from what you have.”

⁹ 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.

¹⁰ tn Or “in his mind.”

¹¹ tn Or “not from regret”; Grk “not out of grief.”

¹² tn Or “not out of a sense of duty”; Grk “from necessity.”

¹³ tn Grk “I fear lest somehow.”

¹⁴ tn Or “the snake.”

¹⁵ tn Or “craftiness.”

¹⁶ tn Or “corrupted,” “seduced.”

¹⁷ tc Although most mss (א² H Ψ 0121 0243 1739 1881 Ï) lack “and pure” (καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος, kai th" Jagnothto"; Grk “and purity”) several important and early witnesses (Ì⁴⁶ א* B D^[2] F G 33 81 104 pc 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 (Japlothto", “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.”