Note that Revised Standard Version encloses verses 17 and 18 in parentheses. But these marks are not used in New Revised Standard Version. What is said in these two verses is a kind of a side explanation, but it will probably not be necessary to use parentheses in the receptor language.

What I am saying: not in the whole letter, but in this part of the letter in which he is boasting.

With the Lord’s authority is literally “not according to the Lord.” Revised English Bible says “not speaking like a Christian.” But this seems rather weak. Some other attempts to render the meaning of this expression are as follows: “is not inspired by the Lord” (Moffatt) and “I speak not as the Lord desires” (New American Bible). The Lord here refers to Jesus Christ (see comments on 2.12).

Instead of saying “not according to the Lord” (the text of the UBS Greek New Testament), a few manuscripts say “not according to God.” One manuscript says “not according to man.” The evidence of the manuscripts is overwhelming in support of the UBS text, and the editors give the reading in the text an “A” evaluation, indicating certainty that the text is the original reading.

The Greek word translated as confidence occurs at 9.4, where Revised Standard Version translates it as “confident” and New Revised Standard Version as “undertaking.” Revised English Bible says in 11.17 “In boasting so confidently.” It is doubtful, however, whether the meaning “confidence” can be established for this Greek word. It seems better therefore to translate as “matter” (Good News Translation) or “business” (Anchor Bible). See comments on “confident” in 9.4. Some languages have restructured this part of the verse to say “when I am praising myself in that way, I am acting like a fool.”

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 .