2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians 10:1

23 tn Or “for boasting.”

24 tc Two viable variants exist at this place in the text: ἁγιότητι (Jagiothti, “holiness”) vs. ἁπλότητι (Japlothti, “pure motives”). A confusion of letters could well have produced the variant (TCGNT 507): In uncial script the words would have been written agiothti and aplothti. This, however, does not explain which reading created the other. Overall ἁπλότητι, though largely a Western-Byzantine reading (א2 D F G Ï lat sy), is better suited to the context; it is also a Pauline word while ἁγιότης (Jagioth") is not. It also best explains the rise of the other variants, πραότητι (praothti, “gentleness”) and (σπλάγχνοις) (splancnoi", “compassion”). On the other hand, the external evidence in favor of ἁγιότητι is extremely strong (Ì46 א* A B C K P Ψ 0121 0243 33 81 1739 1881 al co). This diversity of mss provides excellent evidence for authenticity, but because of the internal evidence listed above, ἁπλότητι is to be preferred, albeit only slightly.

tn Or “sincerity.” The two terms translated “pure motives” (ἁπλότης, Japloth") and “sincerity” (εἰλικρίνεια, eilikrineia) are close synonyms.

25 tn Grk “pure motives and sincerity of God.”

26 tn Or “not by worldly wisdom.”

27 tn Or “and especially.”

2 Corinthians 10:2

28 tn Grk “than the things.”

29 tn Grk “to the end,” a Greek idiom for “fully,” “totally,” “completely.”

2 Corinthians 10:3

30 tn Grk “that we are your boast even as you are our boast.”

31 tc ‡ On the wording “the Lord Jesus” (τοῦκυρίου᾿Ιησοῦ, tou kuriou Ihsou) there is some variation in the extant witnesses: ἡμῶν (Jhmwn, “our”) is found after κυρίου in several significant witnesses (א B F G P 0121 0243 6 33 81 1739 1881 2464 al lat co); the pronoun is lacking from Ì46vid A C D Ψ Ï. Although in Paul “our Lord Jesus Christ” is a common expression, “our Lord Jesus” is relatively infrequent (cf., e.g., Romans 16:20; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 3:11, 13; 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 12). “The Lord Jesus” occurs about as often as “our Lord Jesus” (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:23; 16:23; 2 Corinthians 4:14; 11:31; Ephesians 1:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Philemon 5). Thus, on balance, since scribes would tend to expand on the text, it is probably best to consider the shorter reading as authentic. NA27 places the pronoun in brackets, indicating doubt as to its authenticity.

2 Corinthians 10:4

32 tn Grk “a second grace,” “a second favor” (used figuratively of a second visit by Paul).

2 Corinthians 10:5

33 tn Grk “come again.”

2 Corinthians 10:6

34 tn The Greek construction anticipates a negative answer. This is indicated in the translation by the ’tag’ question “did I?” at the end of the sentence.

35 tn Grk “the things that I plan, do I plan (them).”

36 tn Grk “according to the flesh.”

37 tn Grk “so that with me there should be.”

2 Corinthians 10:8

38 sn Silvanus is usually considered to be the same person as Silas (L&N 93.340).

2 Corinthians 10:10

39 tn Or “strengthens.”

40 tn Grk “But he who establishes us together with you in Christ and anointed us is God.”

2 Corinthians 10:11

41 tn Or “first installment,” “pledge,” “deposit.”

sn Down payment. The Greek word ἀρραβών (arrabwn) denotes the first payment or first installment of money or goods which serves as a guarantee or pledge for the completion of the transaction. In the NT the term is used only figuratively of the Holy Spirit as the down payment of the blessings promised by God (it occurs later in 2 Corinthians 5:5, and also in Ephesians 1:14). In the “already - not yet” scheme of the NT the possession of the Spirit now by believers (“already”) can be viewed as a guarantee that God will give them the balance of the promised blessings in the future (“not yet”).

2 Corinthians 10:12

42 tn Grk “I call upon God as witness against my soul.” Normally this implies an appeal for help (L&N 33.176).

43 tn Here φειδόμενος (feidomeno") has been translated as a telic participle.

44 sn Paul had promised to come again to visit (see 2 Corinthians 1:15, 24) but explains here why he had changed his plans.

map For location see JP1-C2; JP2-C2; JP3-C2; JP4-C2.

2 Corinthians 10:13

45 tn Or “because you stand firm in the faith.”

2 Corinthians 10:15

1 tc Although usually δέ (de, “now”; found in א A C D1 F G Ψ 0285 Ï lat) should take precedent over γάρ (gar) in textually disputed places in the corpus Paulinum, the credentials for γάρ here are not easily dismissed (Ì46 B 0223 0243 33 1739 1881 al); here it is the preferred reading, albeit slightly.

2 tn Or “I decided this for myself.”

3 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 Corinthians 2:4-11 was settled.

2 Corinthians 10:16

4 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 10:17

5 tn The words “to you” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

6 sn So that when I came. Regarding this still future visit by Paul, see 2 Corinthians 12:14; 13:1.

2 Corinthians 10:18

7 The Bible.org ministry has provided the NET Bible® at no cost for inclusion in this Bible study software. You can learn about bible.org’s Ministry First model where we share the NET Bible and thousands of other copyrighted biblical materials at www.bible.org/ministryfirst . Ministry First means what it implies, that we’ve chosen to put ministry ahead of money. We believe that the Bible teaches the ministry first concept very clearly – and we think everyone in the world should have free access to trustworthy Bibles and study materials. Tell your friends to get their free NET Bible and free access to thousands of trustworthy Bible study materials online at www.bible.org . This free NET Bible® module includes all the translators’ notes for the first chapter of each book plus all the notes on verses 1-3 for the remaining 1,123 chapters in the Bible.

We encourage you to upgrade this free version to the premier full NET Bible® version containing all 60,932 notes. This is the most complete set of translators’ notes in any Bible translation and illuminates many important issues of translation and interpretation. You can upgrade by going to www.bible.org/upgrade where you can purchase the full NET Bible or even download basic versions with all 60,932 translators’ notes for free! Your purchases and donations help ensure the ongoing supply of new resources and tools from Bible.org, which is the world’s largest source of trustworthy – and free – Bible study materials.