This verse begins in Greek with the word “rather” (so New International Version). Instead of “losing heart” Paul and his associates do the things mentioned in verse 2. So a strong contrastive conjunction may be appropriate in the receptor language, showing that what follows is in contrast with the idea of “showing fear” or “giving up” in the previous verse.
We have renounced: the Greek verb probably is more emphatic than either Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation indicates. Barrett brings out the sense of the original: “As far as we are concerned” (so also Anchor Bible, “we for our part have renounced…”). Paul is probably implying that there were people who acted in this way (see 2.17). This verb is also in the past tense. Is Paul referring to the time of his conversion? More likely he is referring to an earlier time in his Christian life, when he rejected practices such as those which follow. Translators should avoid giving the impression that Paul at one time did practice cunning or … tamper with God’s word. The word renounced (Revised Standard Version) as well as “put aside” (Good News Translation) seem to suggest incorrectly that Paul did do these things at one time. It may be better to use a verb like “decided” in an expression such as “we decided never to…,” or possibly “we refused to….”
Disgraceful, underhanded ways is literally “the hidden things of shame.” The words “of shame” characterize those things that are hidden; they are “secret and shameful deeds.” More specifically, does Paul mean that the people who do such deeds are, in fact, ashamed of their deeds (so Revised English Bible “the deeds that people hide for very shame”)? Or does he mean that they should be ashamed and are not? Either is possible, but the majority opinion seems to be that the practices were “so shameful that they have to be kept hidden” (Barclay).
We refuse to practice cunning is literally “not walking in deceitfulness.” The verb “to walk” is an Old Testament expression that means “to conduct oneself” or “to behave in a certain manner.” Cunning is the unscrupulous or crafty manner of getting what one wants by deceiving people. New International Version says “we do not use deception.”
To tamper with God’s word: the verb translates a Greek word that means “to water down,” as of the watering down or dilution of wine, or “to falsify” (Good News Translation and many other versions). Some other renderings are “distort” (Translator’s New Testament) and “change” (Good News for the World). Other languages may use a verb like “twist,” as in Contemporary English Version. The expression God’s word here does not refer to the Scriptures of the Old Testament but to the message from God about Christ (see 2.17).
On God’s word see the comments at 2.17.
But: the same Greek word as at the beginning of this verse. Good News Translation leaves this word untranslated. The conjunction usually marks contrast, and it may be appropriate to include it in the receptor language translation.
By the open statement of the truth: Good News Translation takes the Greek noun “manifestation” in an abstract sense and understands the sense to be that Paul and his associates proclaim the gospel in the realm of truth, “in the full light of truth.” More likely the sense is that they openly proclaim the truth of the gospel. Revised English Bible says “It is by declaring the truth openly.” This stands in contrast with the shameful practices that must be hidden, which are mentioned in this context.
We would commend ourselves … in the sight of God: on commend ourselves see 3.1. To every man’s conscience: the context seems to include women as well as men. Languages in which “men” or “man” will exclude women may need to use a gender-inclusive word such as “everyone” (Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).
Normally in the New Testament the word conscience refers to one’s ability to know that one has done something wrong (see comments on 1.12). Here and in 5.11 conscience is used of one’s ability to decide on the rightness or wrongness of someone else’s behavior. On in the sight of God, see the similar phrase in 2.17. Some possible models for translating this idea are “this is how they can know in their hearts what kind of people we are before God” (New Century Version) or “God is our witness that we speak only the truth, so others will be sure that we can be trusted” (Contemporary English Version).
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .