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2 Corinthians 1:23-2:4
New International Version
2 Corinthians 1:23-2:4
New International Version
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) 2 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.(E) 2 For if I grieve you,(F) who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 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. 4 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.
2 Corinthians 1:23-2:4
New English Translation
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
- 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 Corinthians 1:23 tn Here φειδόμενος (pheidomenos) has been translated as a telic participle.
- 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.
- 2 Corinthians 1:24 tn Or “because you stand firm in the faith.”
- 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.
- 2 Corinthians 2:1 tn Or “I decided this for myself.”
- 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.
- 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?”
- 2 Corinthians 2:3 tn The words “to you” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
- 2 Corinthians 2:3 sn So that when I came. Regarding this still future visit by Paul, see 2 Cor 12:14; 13:1.
- 2 Corinthians 2:4 tn Or “the love that I have in great measure for you.”
New International Version (NIV) 
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New English Translation (NET)
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