The first part of verse 14 justifies the claim that Paul makes in the preceding verse. Paul was within the limits of the work God had assigned to him when he preached the gospel in Corinth.

We are not overextending ourselves: these words translate a present tense verb, but this is rendered as past by Good News Translation and New Revised Standard Version: “we were not overstepping our limits.” Probably Paul’s words have a double sense. (1) He has not gone too far by encroaching on territory not included in his calling (so Good News Translation). Revised English Bible speaks of “not overstretching our commission.” (2) But in addition, he also means that he is not extending himself by writing them this letter (so Revised Standard Version); writing this letter is within the realm of his apostolic authority. New International Version says “we are not going too far in our boasting” (similarly Contemporary English Version and New Century Version). Use of the past tense as in Good News Translation eliminates the second meaning. Translators should therefore use a verb tense which allows for both meanings, if possible.

As though we did not reach you: the present participle represented by these words may indicate that Paul was thinking about his continuing responsibilities toward the Corinthian believers as well as his past activity in founding the church there. But it is probably better to translate something like “as would be the case if we had not come to you” (New International Version).

We were the first to come: the Greek verb may be translated as “to come before [someone else]” as in Revised Standard Version (also New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Nueva Biblia Española), or simply “to come” as in Good News Translation (also Bible en français courant, God’s New Covenant). If one follows the interpretation of Revised Standard Version, then Paul is explicitly stating that he had preached the gospel in Corinth before his opponents ever arrived there. Both meanings of this verb are found elsewhere in Paul’s other letters. Either seems to fit equally well here. Since there is no sure way to know which meaning Paul intended here, translators must simply decide to follow either Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation.

All the way to you: this repeats the same phrase found in verse 13 above, where it is translated “even to you.”

The gospel of Christ refers to “the gospel about Christ.”

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 .