I rejoice at the coming …: this first sentence may be rephrased as “I am very happy that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here [from Corinth].” Paul may imply that their presence to some extent compensated for his separation from the other Christians there.

They have made up for your absence: or “… represented you in your absence.” This clause is introduced in the Greek, as in Revised Standard Version, by because, giving the reason why Paul is happy. Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible give the most likely meaning, but Paul may be referring to something more specific. If that is so, Barrett’s translation “they … have supplied what you could not do for me” is also possible.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .