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2 Corinthians 1:23-2:4
New English Translation

Why Paul Postponed His Visit

23 Now I appeal to God as my witness,[a] that to spare[b] you I did not come again to Corinth.[c] 24 I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.[d] 2 1 So[e] I made up my own mind[f] not to pay you another painful visit.[g] 2 For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad[h] but the one I caused to be sad? 3 And I wrote this very thing to you,[i] so that when I came[j] 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. 4 For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you.[k]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:23 tn Grk “I call upon God as witness against my soul.” Normally this implies an appeal for help (L&N 33.176).
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:23 tn Here φειδόμενος (pheidomenos) has been translated as a telic participle.
  3. 2 Corinthians 1:23 sn Paul had promised to come again to visit (see 2 Cor 1:15, 24) but explains here why he had changed his plans.
  4. 2 Corinthians 1:24 tn Or “because you stand firm in the faith.”
  5. 2 Corinthians 2:1 tc Although usually δέ (de, “now”; found in א A C D1 F G Ψ 0285 M lat) should take precedent over γάρ (gar) in textually disputed places in the corpus Paulinum, the credentials for γάρ here are not easily dismissed (P46 B 0223 0243 33 1739 1881 al); here it is the preferred reading, albeit slightly.
  6. 2 Corinthians 2:1 tn Or “I decided this for myself.”
  7. 2 Corinthians 2:1 tn Grk “not to come to you again in sorrow.”sn Paul was not speaking absolutely about not making another visit, but meant he did not want to come to the Corinthians again until the conflict he mentioned in 2 Cor 2:4-11 was settled.
  8. 2 Corinthians 2:2 tn Or “to cheer me up.” L&N 25.131 translates this “For if I were to make you sad, who would be left to cheer me up?”
  9. 2 Corinthians 2:3 tn The words “to you” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
  10. 2 Corinthians 2:3 sn So that when I came. Regarding this still future visit by Paul, see 2 Cor 12:14; 13:1.
  11. 2 Corinthians 2:4 tn Or “the love that I have in great measure for you.”
Close WEB

2 Corinthians 1:23-2:4
World English Bible

23 But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn’t come to Corinth to spare you. 24 We don’t control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.

2 But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. 2 For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me? 3 And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made to grieve, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.

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1 Corinthians 16
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