The word translated as other things means “besides” or “apart from what is left unmentioned.” Both New English Bible and Revised English Bible take the Greek word to refer to external things, hence Revised English Bible translates “Apart from these external things.” But it is doubtful that the Greek word ever has the meaning “what is external,” so translators should follow Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation rather than New English Bible or Revised English Bible here. One translation attempts to convey the idea here by saying “I refrain from counting the sufferings that remain, but…,” and Moffatt has “and all the rest of it” as the conclusion to the list in verses 26 and 27 rather than an introduction to what is about to be said in this verse.

The daily pressure: while many English versions use the word “pressure,” Phillips speaks here of “the daily burden of responsibility” which conveys the meaning and will be more easily translated in many languages. Paul’s concern for the churches was like a heavy load weighing him down. While “stress” or “tension” may be good modern English equivalents, these will be difficult to translate into certain languages. Some will use the word for “thoughts” or “many thoughts” in such a context to convey the idea of anxiety. Others may use the verb “to worry.” Or there may be more unusual idiomatic expressions in the receptor language to convey this idea.

My anxiety is literally “the anxiety” without the possessive pronoun, but the context makes clear that this is the anxiety that Paul has for the churches for which he feels responsible.

All the churches: Paul probably has in mind all the groups of believers that he founded and about which he would be especially concerned. Compare the same expression in 8.18.

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 .