So: the transition word here indicates the logical inference of what has just been said about Satan. It may also be rendered “Then” (New Jerusalem Bible and New International Version) or “Therefore” (Barclay and Anchor Bible).

It is not strange: or, more literally, “nothing so great.” The meaning here is not very different from the first words in the previous verse, “no wonder.” Anchor Bible has “it is … no great surprise.” Similarly New Jerusalem Bible has “it is nothing extraordinary.”

The words his servants, that is, the servants of Satan, refer to the false apostles. Servants here is diakonoi, this time used in a context of evil.

Servants of righteousness: righteousness here probably does not have the theological connotation that it frequently has in Paul’s writings. The meaning is more general here, that they disguise themselves “as agents of good” (Revised English Bible) or “servants of uprightness” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Their end will correspond to their deeds: literally “the end of whom will be according to their works.” The idea of ultimate punishment is clearly implied here. The Good News Translation rendering “In the end” may be easily misunderstood to mean “In the last days.” But what is involved here is the end of these servants of Satan. The idea is more like “they will end up getting the punishment which they deserve.”

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 .