2 Korintus 1:3-7

Thanksgiving for God’s Comfort

1:3 Blessed is ¹  the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 1:4 who comforts us in all our troubles ²  so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble ³  with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 1:5 For just as the sufferings ⁴  of Christ ⁵  overflow ⁶  toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you. ⁷  1:6 But if we are afflicted, ⁸  it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer. 1:7 And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in ⁹  our sufferings, so also you will share in ¹⁰  our comfort.

2 Korintus 4:8-12

4:8 We are experiencing trouble on every side, ¹¹  but are not crushed; we are perplexed, ¹²  but not driven to despair; 4:9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned; ¹³  we are knocked down, ¹⁴  but not destroyed, 4:10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, ¹⁵  so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible ¹⁶  in our body. 4:11 For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible ¹⁷  in our mortal body. ¹⁸  4:12 As a result, ¹⁹  death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. ²⁰ 

2 Korintus 4:16-18

4:16 Therefore we do not despair, ²¹  but even if our physical body ²²  is wearing away, our inner person ²³  is being renewed day by day. 4:17 For our momentary, light suffering ²⁴  is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison 4:18 because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

[1:3]  ¹ tn There is no verb in the Greek text; either the optative (“be”) or the indicative (“is”) can be supplied. The meaning of the term εὐλογητός (euloghtos) and the author’s intention at this point in the epistle must both come into play to determine which is the preferred nuance. εὐλογητός as an adjective can mean either that one is praised or that one is blessed, that is, in a place of favor and benefit. The meaning “blessed” would be more naturally paired with an indicative verb and would suggest that blessedness is an intrinsic part of God’s character. The meaning “praised” would be more naturally paired with an optative verb and would suggest that God ought to be praised. Pauline style in the epistles generally moves from statements to obligations, expressing the reality first and then the believer’s necessary response. When considered as a whole, although a decision is difficult, the general Pauline style of beginning with statements and moving to obligations argues for the indicative. Cf. also Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 1:3.

[1:4]  ² tn Or “our trials”; traditionally, “our affliction.” The term θλῖψις (qliyi") refers to trouble (including persecution) that involves direct suffering (L&N 22.2).

[1:4]  ³ tn Or “any trials”; traditionally, “any affliction.”

[1:5]  ⁴ tn This Greek word translated “sufferings” here (πάθημα, paqhma) is a different one than the one Paul uses for his own afflictions/persecutions (θλῖψις, qliyi") in v. 4.

[1:5]  ⁵ tn I.e., suffering incurred by Paul as a consequence of his relationship to Christ. The genitive could be considered to have a causative nuance here.

[1:5]  ⁶ tn Traditionally, “abound” (here and throughout this section).

[1:5]  ⁷ tn The words “to you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied by the statements in the following verse.

[1:6]  ⁸ tn Or “are troubled.”

[1:7]  ⁹ tn Grk “as you are sharers in.”

[1:7]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “will be sharers in.”

[4:8]  ¹¹ tn Grk “we are hard pressed [by crowds] on every side.”

[4:8]  ¹² tn Or “at a loss.”

[4:9]  ¹³ tn Or “forsaken.”

[4:9]  ¹⁴ tn Or “badly hurt.” It is possible to interpret καταβαλλόμενοι (kataballomenoi) here as “badly hurt”: “[we are] badly hurt, but not destroyed” (L&N 20.21).

[4:10]  ¹⁵ tn The first clause of 2 Cor 4:10 is elliptical and apparently refers to the fact that Paul was constantly in danger of dying in the same way Jesus died (by violence at least). According to L&N 23.99 it could be translated, “at all times we live in the constant threat of being killed as Jesus was.”

[4:10]  ¹⁶ tn Or “may also be revealed.”

[4:11]  ¹⁷ tn Or “may also be revealed.”

[4:11]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “mortal flesh.”

[4:12]  ¹⁹ tn Or “So then.”

[4:12]  ²⁰ tn Grk “death is at work in us, but life in you”; the phrase “is at work in” is repeated in the translation for clarity.

[4:16]  ²¹ tn Or “do not lose heart.”

[4:16]  ²² tn Grk “our outer man.”

[4:16]  ²³ tn Grk “our inner [man].”

[4:17]  ²⁴ tn Grk “momentary lightness of affliction.”