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2 Corinthians 1:23-2:4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

23 But I call on God as witness against me: it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth.(A) 24 I do not mean to imply that we lord it over your faith; rather, we are workers with you for your joy because you stand firm in faith.(B) 2 1 So I made up my mind not to make another visit that causes you grief.(C) 2 For if I cause you grief, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have grieved? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer grief from those who should have made me rejoice, for I am confident about all of you, that my joy would be the joy of all of you.(D) 4 For I wrote you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you grief but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

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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.”
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1 Corinthians 16
2 Corinthians 3
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