23 But I call upon God as witness against my life, that in order to[a] spare you, I did not come again to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.

For I have decided this for myself, not to come to you again in sorrow. For if I cause you sorrow, then who will make me glad except the one who is caused to be sad by me? And I wrote this very thing in order that when I[b] came, I would not experience sorrow from those who ought to have made me glad, because I[c] have confidence about you all, that my joy belongs to all of you[d]. For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not so that you may be caused to be sad, but so that you may know the love that I have especially for you.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:23 Here “in order to” is supplied as a component of the participle (“spare”) which is understood as purpose
  2. 2 Corinthians 2:3 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
  3. 2 Corinthians 2:3 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have confidence”) which is understood as causal
  4. 2 Corinthians 2:3 Literally “is of all of you”

23 I call God as my witness(A)—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you(B) that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over(C) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.(D) So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.(E) For if I grieve you,(F) who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? I wrote as I did,(G) so that when I came I would not be distressed(H) by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence(I) in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you(J) out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.