2 Korintus 12:19

12:19 Have you been thinking all this time ¹  that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up. ² 

2 Korintus 13:7

13:7 Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, ³  but so that you may do what is right ⁴  even if we may appear to have failed the test. ⁵ 

[12:19]  ¹ tc The reading “all this time” (πάλαι, palai) is found in several early and important Alexandrian and Western witnesses including א* A B F G 0243 6 33 81 365 1175 1739 1881 lat; the reading πάλιν (palin, “again”) is read by א² D Ψ 0278 Ï sy bo; the reading οὐ πάλαι (ou palai) is read by Ì⁴⁶, making the question even more emphatic. The reading of Ì⁴⁶ could only have arisen from πάλαι. The reading πάλιν is significantly easier (“are you once again thinking that we are defending ourselves?”), for it softens Paul’s tone considerably. It thus seems to be a motivated reading and cannot easily explain the rise of πάλαι. Further, πάλαι has considerable support in the Alexandrian and Western witnesses, rendering it virtually certain as the original wording here.

[12:19]  ² tn Or “for your strengthening”; Grk “for your edification.”

[13:7]  ³ tn Or “that we may appear to be approved.”

[13:7]  ⁴ tn Or “what is good.”

[13:7]  ⁵ tn Or “even if we appear disapproved.”